Differences and Similarities Between Bulimia and Anorexia...

Differences and Similarities Between Bulimia and Anorexia In this essay similarities and the differences between anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are considered. Similarities in the explanations of the two eating disorders are discussed through psychodynamic, behavioural, genetic and biochemical explanations. Anorexia nervosa is a complex emotional problem characterized by an obsession with food, weight, and thinness. Victims actually starve themselves, eating fewer calories than their bodies need to function. According to the current diagnostic manual of the American Psychiatric Association (DSM-IV), a woman is suffering from clinical anorexia, not just dieting or fasting, when her weight†¦show more content†¦About 40% of the most severely bulimic patients have a history of anorexia. Bulimia nervosa is defined as two or more episodes of binge eating (rapid consumption of a large amount of food, up to 5,000 calories) every week for at least three months. The binges are sometimes followed by vomiting or purging (use of laxatives or diuretics) and may alternate with compulsive exercise and fasting. The symptoms can develop at any age from early adolescence to 40, but usually become clinically serious in late adolescence. Bulimia is not as dangerous to health as anorexia, but it has many unpleasant physical effects, including fatigue, weakness, constipation, fluid retention (bloating), swollen salivary glands, erosion of dental enamel, sore throat from vomiting, and scars on the hand from inducing vomiting. Overuse of laxatives can cause stomach upset and other digestive troubles. Other dangers are dehydration, loss of potassium, and tearing of the esophagus. Women with diabetes, who have a high rate of bulimia, often lose weight after an eating binge by reducing their dose of insulin. According to recent research, this practice damages eye tissue and raises the risk of diabetic retinopathy, which can lead to blindness. In summary these two disorders have much in common like the drive to be thin, an unhealthy fascination with food and the need to be perfect. But theShow MoreRelatedComparing the Similarities and Differences Between Anorexia and Bulimia1016 Words   |  5 PagesAnorexia nervosa and Bulimia nervosa are described as psychological eating disorders (Keel and Levitt, 1). They are both characterized by an over evaluation of weight. Despite being primarily eating disorders, the manifestations of bulimia and anorexia are different. 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