According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, up to 9% of the U.S. population may struggle with an eating disorder during their lifetime. Anorexia and bulimia are the most well-known eating disorders. While these are two different conditions, many of the signs of anorexia and bulimia overlap with each other.
You may understand that your relationship with food isn’t healthy or sustainable, but you’re not sure what to call it—or if what you’re doing even “counts” as an eating disorder. Maybe you’ve found yourself restricting all day and then bingeing at night. Maybe you never or rarely purge, but you use other tactics to control your weight. You’re not alone if you’ve asked yourself, “What’s the difference between anorexia and bulimia?”
Eating disorders don’t show up in neat, clinical boxes. That doesn’t mean that you can’t find support as you heal your relationship with food. You deserve help, even if you don’t know what to call the struggle you’re facing.
What Is the Difference Between Anorexia and Bulimia?
When comparing anorexia vs. bulimia, it’s helpful to start by understanding how they differ. While both are serious eating disorders that involve atypical relationships with food and body image, they differ in how those struggles show up externally.
Anorexia nervosa often involves:
- Extreme restriction of food intake
- Intense fear of weight gain
- A distorted view of body size or shape
- Significant weight loss or weight suppression
Clinically, anorexia is associated with low body weight. A provider might reference bulimia vs. anorexia BMI calculations to distinguish between the two conditions. However, measuring BMI has many limitations. It doesn’t capture the full picture of your health or the emotional distress you are facing.
Bulimia nervosa is defined by:
- Repeated episodes of binge eating
- Compensatory behaviors like self-induced vomiting or overexercise
- Intense feelings of shame, guilt, or secrecy around eating behaviors
Many people who develop bulimia may remain within a normal weight range. Still, BMI is not the only factor used in diagnosing an eating disorder, nor does it determine the seriousness of what is going on. There are a range of both differences and similarities between anorexia vs. bulimia.
Where They Overlap: Similarities Between Anorexia and Bulimia
What do anorexia and bulimia have in common? Quite a bit, actually. Here are just a few examples of the similarities between anorexia and bulimia:
- Obsessive thoughts about food, calories, and weight
- Intense guilt or shame after eating
- Body dissatisfaction and fear of weight gain
- Secretive behavior around food
- Restriction and purging that often occur together
Many people experience a mix of bulimia and anorexia symptoms, or they move between patterns over time. You’re not making things up if your experience doesn’t fit into a textbook category. Overlaps are very real and very common.
Need Help Overcoming Your Eating Challenges?
At NourishRX, our compassionate care team is here to help you get on the path to recovery and see it through. Our team will be with you every step of the way, ensuring you have the resources you need to succeed.
You Might Not Fit One Diagnosis - and That’s Okay
The bottom line is that eating disorders are complicated. It’s not uncommon to restrict eating during the day and binge at night. Or to go through periods of frequent purging, followed by periods of strict rules about food intake. You might see yourself in both sets of symptoms.
Are you wondering, “Can I get support if I don’t meet a threshold of specific symptoms?” The answer is yes. Many conditions fall under a diagnosis called Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED), which includes symptoms that don’t meet the full criteria for anorexia or bulimia. OSFED is still a serious and harmful condition.
You’re not alone if you’re confused and frustrated by how eating disorders are diagnosed. That’s why at NourishRX, we focus on the person, not the label.
How NourishRX Supports Clients in the Grey Area
NourishRX provides personalized services designed to help patients in every stage of their recovery journeys. We understand that eating disorders aren’t one-size-fits-all, and we offer sustainable support whether our clients are living with anorexia vs. bulimia vs. something in between that they can’t quite name.
At NourishRX, our team provides:
- Weight-inclusive care from dietitians who specialize in eating disorder recovery
- Personalized counseling
- Care coordination with therapists, physicians, and family when needed
- Services ranging from foundational support to concierge-level wraparound care
You don’t have to explain everything to get help. Our team is trained to listen to your needs and ask the right questions so that we can help you build a path forward.
When to Reach Out for Help
Support doesn’t depend on how severe your symptoms look from the outside. We want you to reach out early. Here are some signs it might be time to connect with a provider:
- You spend most of your day thinking about food
- You feel out of control around food or try to avoid eating altogether
- Your eating habits feel rigid, extreme, or secretive
- You feel stuck in a cycle and can’t stop
You don’t have to wonder whether you’re sick enough to ask for help—you are worthy of care. Even a small step toward support can make recovery feel more manageable.
You Don’t Need a Label to Start Healing
Differentiating between anorexia vs. bulimia can be beneficial. However, labels aren’t the most important step in your healing journey. Finding a partner to help you navigate the road ahead is.
At NourishRX, we walk with clients through the messy, in-between stages of recovery. We honor your story, values, and voice. Our team can help you reconnect to your body and find your way back.
Start Your Road to Recovery With NourishRX
Don’t let labels and a confusing diagnosis prevent you from seeking help. At NourishRX, we focus on you and the challenges you are facing. Schedule an appointment today.
A Registered Dietitian with over 15 years of experience in the treatment of eating disorders, Ryann Hilton is a passionate advocate for helping individuals heal their relationships with food. She holds a degree in Nutrition & Dietetics from Simmons University and is a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist-Consultant (CEDS-C) through the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (IAEDP). She is deeply committed to using evidence-based approaches to offer practical support that reduces overwhelm and fosters long-term healing.
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