Bulimia and Binge Eating- What’s the Difference?

Bulimia nervosa and binge eating are both serious eating disorders involving eating large amounts of food, but what is the difference? This article will compare the two eating disorders.

Bulimia is a serious and potentially life-threatening disorder, where there is overeating which leads to self-disgust, followed by purging by vomiting or misuse of laxatives.  Purging may give a temporary sense of relief.  According to the Mayo Clinic, bulimia is not a chosen behavior.  It is a complex illness that affects how the brain works and affects decision making.  There is a hyperfocus on body image and weight, plus severe self-judgment for perceived flaws in appearance and personality.  More women than men have bulimia, and it is most common in teenage girls and young women.  Many bulimics also have anorexia. The cause is unknown. Bulimia may be the result of genetic, psychological, familial, societal and cultural factors.

Symptoms of bulimia may include:

• Fear of gaining weight and unhealthy attempts to lose weight
• Feelings of loss of control with repeated eating unusually large amounts of food in one sitting
• Self-induced vomiting or extreme exercise after binge eating
• Using water pills and/or laxatives or enemas to cleanse
• Fasting, limiting calories or avoiding certain foods between binges
• Using dangerous over the counter supplements and other products for weight loss
• Unhappiness with body image and weight that negatively affects self-worth and self-esteem
• Extreme mood swings

Severity of bulimia is based on the number of times a week one purges and associated problems. Family and friends may notice stomach issues, acid reflux, constipation, tooth or gum damage, private eating or bathroom trips during or after eating. The bulimic may also exercise excessively, have weight that varies, have sores or calluses on their knuckles, and have swelling in their jaws, cheeks, hands or feet.

See your doctor if you have symptoms or talk to a professional or someone you trust about getting treatment.  Treatment may include counseling and talk therapy, along with antidepressant medication.  Effective treatment can help self-esteem, healthier eating and may reverse serious complications.

Binge eating is not the same as bulimia nervosa, when a person binges on food but then vomits, uses laxatives, or over exercises to cancel out their increased intake. Binge eating disorder is a “mental health disorder” that is not the fault or choice of the person with this condition.  According to the Mayo Clinic, binge eating is a serious eating disorder, where a person feels unable to stop eating and eats a lot more than a normal amount of food. Binge eaters may be embarrassed or ashamed about their binges and may compensate by reducing their intake drastically.

However, this practice may lead to more binging.

Some symptoms of binge eaters include:

• Being of normal weight or overweight
• Poor body image
• Feeling a lack of control with eating and an inability to stop
• Eating a large amount of food in a short period of time
• Eating when they feel full or when not hungry to the point of discomfort
• They may eat rapidly in a binge cycle
• Eating frequently by themselves and/or hiding their eating
• They may be depressed, ashamed. Disgusted, feel guilty or upset about their binge eating.

Binge eating as a condition may be short lived or come in manageable cycles or may continue for years if not treated.  The severity of the disease tends to dictate how it impacts your life.

If you suspect you are a binge eater, seek medical help.  If embarrassment prevents you from obtaining medical help, talk with a trusted family member, friend, or clergy for support.

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