| Signs and Symptoms | Anorexia | Bulimia |
|---|
| Behavioral | - Self-starvation
- Rituals regarding food, eating, and weight loss
- Behaviors to ↓ weight: purging, exercise, use of laxatives, enemas, and diuretics
| - Repetitive secret bingeing and purging
- Behaviors to ↓ weight: purging, exercise, use of laxatives, enemas, and diuretics
- Fasts to compensate for bingeing
|
| Physical | - Weight loss 15% below ideal
- Cachexia (sunken eyes, protruding bones, dry skin)
- Amenorrhea
- ↓ Pulse, ↓ body temperature
- Lanugo on face
- Constipation
- Sensitivity to cold
| - Weight is usually normal; may be ↑ or ↓
- Fluid/electrolyte imbalances (↓ K, metabolic alkalosis, dehydration)
- Menstrual irregularities
- Dental caries, loss of dental enamel,
- ↓ BP, cardiac dysrhythmias, constipation or diarrhea, GERD, parotid enlargement
|
| Psychological | - Appears fat to self
- Intense, irrational fear of being fat
- Preoccupation with cooking, food, nutrition
- Delayed psychosexual development
- Perfectionist, high achiever
| - Excessive concern about weight, shape, proportions
- Lack of control over eating during bingeing
- Depression, shame, self-contempt follow bingeing
- Mood swings, irritability
- Impulsive, extrovert
|
BP = blood pressure, GERD = gastroesophageal reflux disease.