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Anorexia's Sisters: Bulimia and BED, Part I

© Mark Stuart Ellison

This article explores some of the similarities and differences between the major eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder (BED). It should not be used for diagnosis or medical treatment. If you suspect that you or a loved one is suffering from an eating disorder, seek advice from a physician or other qualified health care practitioner.

No discussion of anorexia nervosa can be complete without at least touching on the other two major eating disorders: bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder (BED). While the focus of these pages is, and will continue to be, female anorexia, this overview is intended for those suffering from any of these disorders, or combination thereof, as well as interested researchers and medical providers.

In her article, "Eating Disorders: An Overview of Anorexia, Bulimia, and Compulsive Over-eating," Linda Ciotola, M.Ed., C.H.E.S. synthesizes a common profile of these conditions. All result from the complex interactions of biological, psychological, and social factors. All involve an obsession with food, weight, and physical appearance. Although they usually affect adolescent females, no age group or sex is immune.

According to Ciotola, the disorders are often the outgrowth of dieting among girls trying to attain a cultural ideal of slenderness. All respond to multi-disciplinary treatment with an emphasis on psychotherapy. On the biological side, research indicates that many sufferers have imbalances of brain chemicals known as neurotransmitters. This situation can often be corrected with anti-depressant or other medications. However, getting the person into treatment is a major stumbling block because the illnesses are defense mechanisms to avoid facing intensely painful emotional problems.

All of these illnesses are self-destructive behaviors which can, and do, result in death. The sooner the sufferer gets treatment, the greater her chances for recovery.

There are a variety of support groups on the internet for sufferers of all stripes. One of the most popular newsgroups for people with all types of eating disorders is alt.support.eating-disord.

Bulimia Nervosa

The American Anorexia Bulimia Association (AABA) notes that bulimia is usually characterized by frequent binge eating (enormous food consumption in one sitting) followed by purging. According to AABA, bulimics purge by vomiting and abusing laxatives, enemas or diuretics. The Academy for Eating Disorders calls these bulimics "purging types." According to the Academy, non-purging bulimics follow their binges with compulsive exercise or fasts.

Similarly, the Academy observes the existence of purging and non-purging subtypes in anorexia. The diagnosis of anorexia, binge/purging type, is problematical because of its resemblance to bulimia. According to the Academy, if a patient simultaneously meets criteria for both anorexia and bulimia, she is diagnosed as an anorexic, binge-purging type.

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