Anorexia Nervosa vs Bulimia Nervosa

Anorexia Nervosa

Bulimia Nervosa

Tend to be underweight

Tend to be average weight

• Rare vomiting or diuretic/laxative use

• Frequent vomiting or diuretic/laxative abuse

• More severe weight loss

• Less weight loss

• Slightly younger

• Slightly older

• More introverted

• More extroverted

• Hunger denied

• Hunger experienced

• Disorder may be considered normal and  source of esteem

• Behavior considered foreign and source of distress

• Sexually inactive

• More sexually active

• Obsessional and perfectionist features predominate

• Avoidant, dependent, or borderline features as well as obsessional features

• Amenorrhea

• Death from hypokalemia or suicide

• Death from starvation (or suicide, in chronically ill)

• Menses irregular or absent

• Drug/alcohol abuse, self-mutilation, and other behavioral problems