{"id":18209,"date":"2021-01-26T13:00:18","date_gmt":"2021-01-26T18:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=18209"},"modified":"2021-01-26T11:48:52","modified_gmt":"2021-01-26T16:48:52","slug":"anorexia-vs-bulimia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/anorexia-vs-bulimia\/","title":{"rendered":"Anorexia vs. bulimia: Causes, symptoms, treatments"},"content":{"rendered":"

Anorexia vs. bulimia causes<\/a> | Prevalence<\/a> | Symptoms<\/a> | Diagnosis<\/a> | Treatments<\/a> | Risk factors<\/a> | Prevention<\/a> | When to see a doctor<\/a> | FAQs<\/a> | Resources<\/a><\/p>\n

Eating disorders<\/span> are complex and serious <\/span>mental health<\/span> conditions that involve the development of unhealthy <\/span>eating habits<\/span> as well as negative <\/span>body image<\/span> that often leads to malnutrition. There are multiple types of <\/span>eating disorders<\/span>, two of which are <\/span>anorexia nervosa<\/span> and <\/span>bulimia nervosa<\/span>. These conditions are commonly abbreviated to \u201canorexia\u201d and \u201cbulimia.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Anorexia nervosa<\/span> is characterized by <\/span>weight loss<\/span> due to extreme <\/span>dieting<\/span>, starvation, or too much exercise. Those with anorexia have difficulty maintaining a healthy <\/span>body weight<\/span> in consideration of height and age. <\/span>Bulimia nervosa<\/span> is characterized by a cycle of <\/span>binging<\/span> and <\/span>purging<\/span> through self-induced vomiting, use of <\/span>laxatives<\/span>, exercise, or fasting.<\/span><\/p>\n

Causes<\/span><\/h2>\n

Anorexia<\/span><\/h3>\n

Anorexia can occur simultaneously with <\/span>another mental illness<\/span><\/a> such as <\/span>depression<\/span><\/a>, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or another <\/span>anxiety disorder<\/span><\/a>. <\/span>Low self-esteem<\/span> and striving for perfection are also common traits. History of trauma including physical, sexual, or emotional abuse can make people susceptible to developing an <\/span>eating disorder<\/span>\u2014the condition serving as a control mechanism when facing trauma.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Media and culture emphasize <\/span>thinness<\/span> as a beauty standard which puts pressure on young people, especially girls, to have this body type. Professions or sports that emphasize <\/span>thinness<\/span> such as ballet, figure skating, running, and modeling can put pressure on individuals. Anorexia often runs in families which suggests that genetics are a factor in its development, although the link between genes and anorexia is still being researched.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bulimia<\/span><\/h3>\n

Since <\/span>eating disorders<\/span> are illnesses that focus on food and <\/span>body image<\/span>, the risk factors of anorexia and bulimia are similar and can overlap. <\/span>Risk factors of bulimia<\/span><\/a> can include <\/span>low self-esteem<\/span>, history of trauma, media and social media influences, and more. View the table below for a more comprehensive list of anorexia and bulimia risk factors.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Anorexia vs. bulimia causes<\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Anorexia<\/b><\/td>\nBulimia<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
    \n
  • Depression and anxiety disorders<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)<\/span><\/li>\n
  • History of trauma<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Media and culture<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Professions or sports that emphasize <\/span>thinness<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Genetics<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Low self-esteem<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
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