From the Guidelines
Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa are two distinct eating disorders with different characteristics.
Key Differences
- Anorexia Nervosa is characterized by a refusal to maintain a minimally normal body weight, whereas Bulimia Nervosa is marked by repeated episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting 1.
- Anorexia Nervosa typically involves restrictive eating patterns, whereas Bulimia Nervosa involves a cycle of bingeing and purging 2.
- The treatment approaches for these two disorders also differ, with Anorexia Nervosa often requiring individualized goals for weekly weight gain and target weight, and Bulimia Nervosa typically involving eating disorder-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy and medication such as serotonin reuptake inhibitors 2.
Diagnosis and Treatment
- The American Psychiatric Association recommends a comprehensive evaluation, including a physical examination, laboratory tests, and a review of systems, to diagnose and treat eating disorders 2, 3.
- A multidisciplinary team approach, including medical, psychiatric, psychological, and nutritional expertise, is essential for treating eating disorders 2, 4.
- The treatment plan should be person-centered, culturally appropriate, and tailored to the individual's needs, with a focus on restoring weight, normalizing eating patterns, and addressing psychological aspects of the disorder 2, 3.
From the Research
Differences between Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa
- Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa are two distinct eating disorders with different characteristics, as described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual DSM IV-TR 5.
- The main difference between the two disorders is the presence or absence of bulimic episodes, with Anorexia Nervosa characterized by restrictive eating and Bulimia Nervosa characterized by binge eating and purging behaviors 5, 6.
- Patients with Anorexia Nervosa tend to have low body weight, while those with Bulimia Nervosa often have normal or near-normal body weight 6.
- Individuals with Anorexia Nervosa often deny their illness, while those with Bulimia Nervosa are more likely to be aware of their eating difficulties and experience feelings of misery 6.
Similarities and Distinctions
- Both Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa affect predominantly young female populations and involve body image disturbance as a core symptom 6.
- The aetiological factors for both conditions overlap to a large extent, including psychological, developmental, biological, and socio-cultural factors 5, 6.
- While some research suggests that eating disorders, including Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa, may be part of a continuum of symptoms rather than distinct disorders 5, 7, other studies argue that they are separate disorders with different causes 8.
- Treatment outcomes for Bulimia Nervosa are reportedly better than those for Anorexia Nervosa, with cognitive-behavioral therapy and pharmacotherapy being effective treatments for Bulimia Nervosa 6, 9.