Question

What are the symptoms and main features of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa? How are people with anorexia nervosa similar to those with bulimia nervosa? How are they different? pp. 266-272

Short answer

Anorexia nervosa is characterized by a fear of gaining weight, obsessive exercising, and a distorted body image that leads to severe weight loss, while bulimia nervosa is defined by recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by purging to prevent weight gain and a fear of weight gain. Both disorders involve a distorted body image and fear over weight gain, but they differ in how individuals achieve or maintain their desired weight.

Step-by-step solution

Recognising Symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight, a strong desire to be thin, and a self-induced starvation leading to extreme thinness. The symptoms include: body weight that's abnormally low, an extreme fear of gaining weight, distorted body image, obsessively exercising, and engaging in behaviors to prevent weight gain.

Recognising Symptoms of Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is a serious eating disorder characterized by episodes of binge eating followed by purging. Symptoms include: consuming large amounts of food in a short time (binge eating), then using various methods (like vomiting, fasting, excessive exercise) to prevent weight gain (purging), a fear of gaining weight, and body image dissatisfaction.

Identifying Similarities and Differences

Both anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa share certain similarities. They are both eating disorders characterized by an obsession with food and weight. Moreover, individuals with both conditions often have a distorted body image. However, the way these conditions manifest is different. People with anorexia nervosa often remain severely underweight, while those with bulimia nervosa may maintain a relatively normal weight. The main distinction is the characteristic behavior: anorexia nervosa involves self-starvation and excessive weight loss; bulimia nervosa involves recurrent binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors such as purging.

Key concepts

Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are serious conditions related to persistent eating behaviors that negatively impact health, emotions, and one's ability to function in important areas of life. The most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder.

These disorders can affect anyone but are most prevalent among young women. Factors that may contribute to the development of eating disorders include genetics, brain biology, cultural and societal influences, and psychological issues such as low self-esteem or perfectionism. Treatment often involves a comprehensive approach, including psychological therapy, nutrition education, and medical monitoring.

Symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is characterized by an obsessive fear of gaining weight and a refusal to maintain a healthy body weight. Key symptoms include:

• Significantly lower body weight compared to what is normal for the individual's age and height.
• Intense fear of weight gain, even when underweight.
• Distorted perception of body weight or shape, undue influence of body weight on self-esteem, or denial of the seriousness of the current low body weight.
• Excessive dietary restrictions, fasting, or compulsive exercise.

Recognizing these symptoms is crucial as the condition has serious health implications, including risk for starvation, heart and organ damage, and bone loss.

Symptoms of Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa involves recurrent episodes of binge eating, followed by compensatory behaviors to avoid weight gain. The symptoms include:

• Eating unusually large amounts of food in a specific period ('binge eating').
• Lack of control during the binging episode.
• Engaging in inappropriate and harmful methods to prevent weight gain after binge eating ('purging'), such as self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, diuretics, fasting, or excessive exercise.
• Extreme concern with body weight and shape.

This disorder also carries significant health risks, including gastrointestinal issues, severe dehydration, and electrolyte imbalance that can lead to heart problems.

Differences between Anorexia and Bulimia

While anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa share several similarities such as fear of gaining weight and body image concerns, they are distinct in their manifestation. The primary difference lies in their eating patterns and body weight. Anorexia nervosa is associated with food restriction leading to significantly low body weight, while bulimia nervosa is marked by binge eating episodes followed by behaviors meant to avert weight gain, with individuals usually maintaining an average or above-average weight.

Another distinction is the visibility of the disorders; anorexia nervosa may be more apparent due to extreme thinness, whereas bulimia nervosa can be more secretive and thus, harder to recognize. Understanding these differences is important for the correct diagnosis and treatment of these serious conditions.