How Eating Disorders Differ: Orthorexia vs. Anorexia vs. Bulimia vs. BED

Education is power.

 When it comes to eating disorders, I often see people who are confused about how eating disorders differ, and why this may impact them.

Though there are often overlapping similarities in eating disorders, it’s helpful to understand how specific they differ. Knowing the differences can assist with effective diagnosis, tailored treatment, improved awareness, and it can help reduce stigmas by minimizing misunderstandings.

In this blog I want to give you a basic guide to how orthorexia, anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder (BED) differ.

What is binge eating disorder (BED)?

BED is commonly misunderstood as a condition where individuals never restrict food intake after a binge. This is inaccurate—binging often stems from prior restrictions.

Unlike someone with anorexia or bulimia, someone with BED will not severely restrict their food, exercise excessively, induce vomiting, or misuse medication but they will often restrict food out of a belief that they “cannot control themselves”. For example, someone may restrict from eating cookies because they feel they don’t have control over how many they will eat.

 People with BED may follow a specific diet like Keto or Weight Watchers. They may also restrict self-compassion or activities that feel joyful—and this restriction can often lead to another binge.

 Curious how to find a binge eating therapist? I’m serving clients in MA, RI, VT, and VA. If you’re concerned about yourself or someone you know, please reach out to learn more about how I can help.

What is bulimia?

Bulimia is a binge/purge cycle. Purging is not always vomiting; it could be a misuse of medication, over-exercise, or severe food restriction.

The distinction between bulimia and BED is that in bulimia, the restriction is primarily aimed at compensating for the binge. In contrast, in BED, the focus is solely on the binge itself.

If you’re thinking, “Where can I find a bulimia therapist near me?” I might be able to help. I’m serving clients in MA, RI, VT, and VA. Learn more about my services.

What is anorexia?

Anorexia has two sub-types – restricting type or binge-purge type.

The main difference between these sub-types lies in their respective behaviors. The restrictive type primarily involves limiting caloric intake through strict dietary restrictions and excessive exercise. The binge-purge subtype entails episodes of binge eating followed by purging behaviors, which accompany the severe restriction.

In bulimia, individuals frequently experience episodes of binge eating, following a binge episode. While binge eating may occur occasionally in individuals with anorexia, it is not as common and often includes severe restriction.

Are you looking for an anorexia therapist? If you’re in MA, RI, VT, or VA, you can contact me to learn more about how I might be able to help.

What is orthorexia? 

Orthorexia limits types of food to foods that are perceived as healthy.

Someone with orthorexia may fixate on foods that are organic, low in sugar, low in carbs, or follow some other rule around perceived health benefits.

Clients with orthorexia will often find that their fixation impacts their ability to function. They may be overly consumed to the point where they dread eating, may spend all their time and money on buying and meal-prepping these foods, or may avoid social situations.

Someone with orthorexia may not necessarily be focusing on weight loss; they may engage in these behaviors due to health anxiety.

If you’re in MA, RI, VT, or VA, and looking for an orthorexia therapist, please take a look at my services to learn more about how I might be able to support you.

This blog is not for diagnosis purposes.

This blog is strictly for educational purposes to help people better understand the differences between these four eating disorders.

If you, or someone you know, is struggling with anything I’ve discussed above, I encourage you to reach out. I’m passionate about helping people get the support they need and regain control over their relationship with food and their lives. Want to learn more? Contact me today for a FREE consultation.