What is the difference between anorexia nervosa and anorexia

Anorexia nervosa is a serious psychological and eating disorder. The complications can be fatal, but treatment and recovery are possible. Find out…. Eating disorders are conditions that involve disordered eating. Learn more about the different types of eating disorder and their associated symptoms….

Cognitive behavioral therapy CBT is a short-term talking therapy where a professional counselor or therapist works with an individual to help them…. What is the difference between anorexia and bulimia? Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, Ph. Differences Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Recovery Support Summary Anorexia nervosa and bulimia are both eating disorders in which a person tries to lose weight in unhealthful ways.

Share on Pinterest Anorexia and bulimia both involve people trying to lose weight in unhealthful ways. Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals.

Costs associated with obesity may account for 3. Related Coverage. What to know about bulimia nervosa. Medically reviewed by Marney A. White, PhD, MS. What are the effects of bulimia on the body? Medically reviewed by Judith Marcin, M. Most individuals associate anorexia with the restricting subtype, which is characterized by the severe limitation of food as the primary means to lose weight.

Although both of these disorders are centered around an obsession with food in one way or another, individuals with anorexia nervosa are using food as a way to control their weight and body image whereas individuals with orthorexia nervosa are not concerned about their weight but instead are concerned about how pure foods will contribute to their health. The main driving factors that influence both of these eating disorders are perfectionism and control.

Both anorexia nervosa and orthorexia nervosa lead to the following: excessive focus on food-related topics, a strict diet, perfectionism, the co-occurrence of anxiety and self-harm, and the need for control. The following are additional signs and symptoms that are seen in both anorexia nervosa and orthorexia nervosa:. At this stage, your doctor will likely order lab tests.

This can help rule out other causes of weight loss. It can also monitor your overall health to make sure that no complications have occurred as a result of a possible eating disorder. If the tests reveal no other medical causes for your symptoms, your doctor may refer you to a therapist for outpatient treatment. They may also refer you to a nutritionist to help you get your diet back on track. If severe complications have occurred, your doctor may recommend that you get inpatient treatment instead.

This will allow your doctor or another medical professional to monitor your progress. They can also watch for signs of further complications. In either case, your therapist may be the one to actually diagnose a specific eating disorder after talking about your relationship with food and weight.

The criteria required to diagnose anorexia is:. The criteria required to diagnose bulimia is:. But there are a number of treatments available to treat both anorexia and bulimia. Your doctor may recommend a combination of talk therapies, prescription medications, and rehabilitation to treat either condition.

According to a study , medication has shown little efficacy for the treatment of anorexia. Medicinal options for bulimia appear to be a little more promising. The study indicates a number of medications may be effective in treating this disorder. Cognitive behavioral therapy CBT uses a combination of talk therapy and behavioral modification techniques.

It may involve addressing past trauma, which could have caused a need for control or low self-esteem. CBT can also involve questioning your motivations for extreme weight loss. Your therapist will also help you develop practical, healthy ways to deal with your triggers. Family therapy may be recommended for adolescents and children. It aims to improve communication between you and your parents, as well as teach your parents how to best support you in your recovery.

Your therapist or doctor may also recommend support groups. The main difference between diagnoses is that anorexia nervosa is a syndrome of self-starvation involving significant weight loss of 15 percent or more of ideal body weight, whereas patients with bulimia nervosa are, by definition, at normal weight or above. Bulimia is characterized by a cycle of dieting, binge-eating and compensatory purging behavior to prevent weight gain.

Purging behavior includes vomiting, diuretic or laxative abuse. Excessive exercise aimed at weight loss or at preventing weight gain is common in both anorexia nervosa and in bulimia. Eating disorders are believed to result from a combination of biological vulnerability, environmental, and social factors. A useful way of thinking about what causes an eating disorder is to distinguish predisposing, precipitating and perpetuating factors that contribute to its onset and maintenance.

Individuals who develop eating disorders, especially those with the restricting subtype of anorexia nervosa are often perfectionistic, eager to please others, sensitive to criticism, and self-doubting. They may have difficulty adapting to change and be routine bound. A smaller group of patients with eating disorders have a more extroverted temperament and are novelty-seeking and impulsive with difficulty maintaining stable relationships.

There is no one personality associated with eating disorders, however. Treatment of anorexia nervosa involves nutritional rehabilitation to normalize weight and eating behavior. Psychotherapy is aimed at correcting irrational preoccupations with weight and shape, managing challenging emotions and anxieties and preventing relapse. Interventions include monitoring weight gain, prescribing an adequate diet, and admitting patients who fail to gain weight to a specialty inpatient or partial hospitalization program.

Specialty programs combining close behavioral monitoring and meal support with psychological therapies are generally very effective in achieving weight gain in patients unable to gain weight in outpatient settings.