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NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Friday, February 10, 2012
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NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Friday, February 10, 2012
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Diet and Nutrition |
Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia03/25/1998 |
Which is worse, anorexia or bulimia?
Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa are both serious eating disorders. Many individuals with anorexia nervosa have died from starvation. While death is less common with bulimia, serious complications can also occur from this disorder.Anorexia nervosa is a disease in which the affected person refuses to eat enough to keep a healthy body weight. Individuals with anorexia nervosa are quite fearful of becoming fat and usually have a distorted image of their body. Women with anorexia nervosa may often produce abnormally low levels of estrogen and stop menstruating. As in bulimia, some individuals with anorexia may experience binges and purges. Unfortunately, anorexics often resist treatment and may even deny that they have a problem.
Individuals with bulimia nervosa generally have a normal weight. As in anorexia, bulimics generally are extremely focused on their weight and body shape. The hallmark of bulimia is the binge-purge cycle. During binges, bulimics eat excessive quantities of food uncontrollably. These binges are often done secretly. Feeling guilt-ridden or fearful of having taken in excess calories during a binge, bulimics engage in some form of purging. The vast majority of bulimics purge by self-inducing vomiting. Some may also use laxatives or diuretics to "eliminate" unwanted calories. These episodes of binging/purging typically occur several times a month. .
Anorexics and bulimics may both suffer from serious medical problems. Anorexics often have lost so much weight that they are at risk of starving to death. Their are a number of problems caused by being severely underweight including depression, irregular heart beats, a low body temperature and muscle weakness. Individuals who vomit frequently can have metabolic imbalances and often have severe injury to their teeth from chronic exposure to stomach acid.
Anorexia nervosa and bulimia are best managed by a psychiatrist or other individual who is very knowledgeable about eating disorders. Some anorexics even require hospitalization if their body weight is too low. If you or someone you know suffers from the symptoms described here, I strongly recommend that they talk to their doctor.
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Jill Foster, MD Formerly, Assistant Professor Department of Family Medicine College of Medicine University of Cincinnati |
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