| People have many misconceptions about anorexia. | | | | Every once in a while, anorexics may also engage in |
| Due to poor understanding of the phenomenon or due | | | | binge-purge behaviors, eating exaggerated amounts of |
| to various popular myths surrounding eating disorders, | | | | food at once, only to dispose of it right after, by |
| most people assimilate denatured ideas regarding | | | | vomiting or by using laxatives and diuretics. However, |
| anorexia and the persons it affects. | | | | this behavior is more common among bulimics. |
| Probably the most common misconception describes | | | | People also commonly confuse anorexia with bulimia. |
| anorexia as an incurable, terrifying disease. Although | | | | Although anorexia may resemble bulimia and people |
| anorexia can cause both physical and psychological | | | | generally experience difficulties in separating between |
| harm, this type of eating disorder can be successfully | | | | them, each of these two common types of eating |
| treated and its undesirable effects can be overcome | | | | disorders has various distinctive features. However, |
| in time. In fact, through the means of an appropriate | | | | people with eating disorders can have oscillatory |
| therapeutic program, the great majority of patients | | | | behaviors and anorexics can easily become bulimics, |
| diagnosed with anorexia can be completely recovered | | | | or vice versa. |
| from the disorder in a relatively short period of time. | | | | First of all, from a physical point of view, the main |
| Statistics indicate that more than 80 percent of people | | | | difference between anorexics and bulimics is body |
| that have been confronted with anorexia at a certain | | | | weight. While most anorexics are underweight, bulimics |
| point of their lives have been completely recovered | | | | often have an average or, above average body |
| with the means of psychological counseling and the | | | | weight. Therefore, unlike the case of anorexics, it is |
| help and encouragement of their families. Furthermore, | | | | even more difficult to identify a person who suffers |
| most of the people affected by anorexia in the past | | | | from bulimia. |
| have been able to achieve emotional balance, regaining | | | | From a behavioral point of view, the main difference |
| full control over their lives. However, the truth is that | | | | between anorexics and bulimics involves their eating |
| anorexia needs to be timely discovered and prompt | | | | habits. While anorexics commonly keep drastic diets |
| intervention is required when dealing with this type of | | | | and restrict their intake of calories, bulimics |
| disorder, as the affected persons can inflict | | | | predominantly engage in binge-purge acts. |
| themselves a lot of physical and emotional damage. | | | | From a psychological perspective, the main difference |
| Another popular myth surrounding this type of eating | | | | between anorexics and bulimics is that people with |
| disorder suggests the idea that anorexics do not eat. | | | | anorexia have a stronger will and ambition than |
| This idea is completely exaggerated and unfunded! | | | | bulimics. While both these categories have a low self |
| Although anorexics are very restrictive with food and | | | | esteem and a distorted self-image, bulimics are often |
| they indeed keep drastic diets, they are human beings | | | | more likely to suffer from depression. Their |
| after all and therefore they need to eat! In order to | | | | contradictory, ambivalent behaviors that fluctuate |
| achieve their goal of having a slim body, anorexics | | | | between binging and purging food render them very |
| usually avoid foods that are rich in calories and | | | | vulnerable to developing feelings of guilt and confusion. |
| therefore they commonly follow vegetarian diets. | | | | |