Anorexia vs. Bulimia: How to Tell the Difference
Not everyone is familiar with the different kinds of eating disorders. Some are seldom spoken about outside of medical circles. Most people at least know the terms anorexia and bulimia, though. They’re both relatively common and have become part of the language of society in general.
You can take a test for anorexia concerns, and there are similar ones that will let you know if you’re bulimic. Before taking those tests, though, you should know the difference between the two conditions. We’ll talk about both in detail now.
What is Anorexia?
Those who are anorexic usually eat very little. Even if they are quite thin, they have a condition where they constantly worry that they’re becoming overweight or others perceive that they are becoming overweight.
They may eat only a few bites of food at mealtimes. They may also constantly say that they’re on a diet. You will almost never see them eat a hearty meal.
What is Bulimia?
Bulimia is characterized as a condition where an individual wants to maintain a healthy weight, but they usually do so by eating normally or even binge eating and then causing themselves to throw up the food that they have just ingested. Like anorexics, those with bulimia are preoccupied with their weight. Rather than eating very little, though, they maintain a healthy weight or even stay at a lower weight than the scientifically determined ideal by purging.
How Can You Tell Which One Someone Has?
There are some similarities that you might notice with bulimia and anorexia, but there are also some key differences. The similarity is usually someone’s preoccupation, if not downright obsession, with their weight and appearance. They may not necessarily talk about it all the time, but it’s usually apparent pretty quickly that the topic is never far from their thoughts.
The difference is in the way a person with either one of these eating disorders tries to stay thin.
If you encounter someone who’s anorexic, you might notice fairly quickly that they like to exercise every day or at least several times per week. They may often mention being on a diet or other food restrictions that they have assigned themselves. You might never see them eat a large meal or anything approaching one.
Someone who has bulimia will eat regular meals or even quite hearty ones. They may then excuse themselves to use the bathroom not long after eating. This, presumably, is so they can vomit up the food that they just ate.
Either one of these disorders can be quite serious. There are various health concerns that go along with either condition, as any doctor will be quick to tell you.
You should not assume that someone has an eating disorder if they seem to demonstrate some of the behaviors that we’ve mentioned, but you should not discount the possibility, either. If someone does receive a diagnosis of an eating disorder from a qualified medical doctor, you would hope that they get the help they need.
