Anorexia

Anorexia – Is a disorder characterised by deliberate weight loss which is induced and sustained by the patient. It occurs most commonly in adolescent girls and young women, but adolescent boys and young men may also be affected, as may children approaching puberty and older women up to the menopause. The disorder is associated with a dread of fatness and flabbiness of the body causing the patient to impose a low weight threshold on themselves. This leads to under-nutrition of varying severity which causes disturbances in bodily function.

Bulimia – is a syndrome characterised by repeated bouts of overeating and a preoccupation toward the control of body weight, leading to a pattern of overeating followed by vomiting or use of purgatives.

This disorder shares many psychological features with anorexia nervosa, including an over concern with body shape and weight. The repeated vomiting will likely give rise to disturbances of body electrolytes and physical complications.

Key statistics about the two eating disorders

Anorexia

Anorexia has the highest mortality rate on any psychiatric disorder

1 in 5 premature deaths of individuals with Anorexia Nervosa are caused by suicide

* The National Eating Disorders Collaboration. (2012). Eating Disorders in Australia. Retrieved from http://www.nedc.com.au/eating-disorders-in-australia

The onset of anorexia usually occurs during adolescents with a median age of 17

* Steiner, H, Kwan, W, Shaffer, TG, Walker, S, Miller, S, Sagar, A & Lock, J Ibid.'Risk and protective factors for juvenile eating disorders', vol. 12 Suppl 1, pp. I36-8.

40% of people with anorexia nervosa are at risk of developing bulimia nervosa

* Beumont, PJV & Touyz, SW Ibid. 'What kind of illness is anorexia nervosa?' vol. 12, pp. I/20-4.

Bulimia

The onset of Bulimia Nervosa usually occurs between 16 and 18 years of age

* Understanding Eating Disorders. (1997). The Eating Disorders Association Resource Centre.

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