Forums → WEPR → What's worst Anorexia or Bulimia

I think Bulimia poses more of a threat because of esphogatis (sp?). It can be life threatening and require surgery which will lead to kidney and heart problems.

AHH! Not another "worse" thread. What really defines worse? Maybe this definition is easier to define than that other thread. I guess you are referring to worse for your health? Well Ash explained it pretty good, but she didn't add that Anorexia is also life threatening. Maybe she knew that, but didn't mention it. Almost (if not, all) eating disorders are life threatening. If you didn't know, anorexia has the most victims of ANY mental illness. So if I had to pick a "worse" it would have to be anorexia.

Info taken from this link. [url]http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/features/anorexia-body-neglected[/url]

Estel picked up right where I needed it!

What is EVEN worse is that like most mental disorders, they are comorbid. Typically a person with anorexia or bulimia is going to have depression and sometimes OCD. Anorexia is all about CONTROL. These people usually have tragedies in their life and they feel that the least they can do is control what they put in the their mouth.

In terms of prevalence, does anyone know how obesity rates compare to rates of anorexia and bulimia?

I'd have to say, with my lack of scientific background knowledge, that worst one is the one that causes the most suffering (which is either difficult or impossible to measure) but that the particular circumstances are what matters. People have different body-types, psychological make-ups, etc, one might be more unhealthier than the other.

I'd have to put my money on bulimia, though... I have the sense that constant puking is bad for everything from the stomach to the teeth to the mind.

What's the cure, though? Less advertising? We should wait for a med student to weigh in on this.

Isn't Strop in the medical field? Maybe I will ask him....
Anyway, bulimia would be considered worst if there was a way to measure suffering, but anorexia proves with results. I guess it all ties back to what exactly does "worse" mean in this situation. In both diseases, the host typically has had some sort of soul-crushing or depressing event occur in their life, but sometimes it is just to "fit in" or propoganda has dug into their mind etc. I guess Squalick has a point that bulimia somes with a package of other problems such as the ones named.

Cure for bulimia and anorexia - CGT!

Cognitive behavioral therapy. No meds, nothing. It is all in the mind. These mental disorders are not all ways directly related to obesity. Most of them have body dysmorphia.

Both are pretty bad. This is very similar to the racism vs sexism thread. ie 2 rele bad things, which one is worse. I mean there is no real answer you need to ask a medical specialist about it. Altho i wouldnt be surprised if there is no clear answer from a doctor as the disease is often rooted in the persons mind and so how bad it is depends on each different person. I dont really know which one is worse mediacally but i think they are both pretty bad.

One of my friends is struggling with bulimia of the binging-and-purging variety (actually I have multiple friends, both male and female, who either have or had it), and talking with him he said it pretty much ruined his stomach and did some really bad things to his throat, as the stomach acids which are vomited go through the esophagus, causing a lot of damage and degrading it. Furthermore it degrades the enamel on your teeth, making you susceptible to dental caries and other conditions. The non-purging type (who fast and then binge or eat very little and then binge) do not suffer from the vomiting-related issues, but still have very strong psychological issues that need to be addressed. Generally bulimics do not drop to an unhealthy weight because your body absorbs calories while you are eating and not necessarily long after, but there are a whole lot of health issues that come with it.

Anorexia nervosa, however, gives you no nutrients and somebody who never eats or who eats only a barely sustainable amount of food or very calorie-shallow foods will not get enough nutrients and suffer from nutritional deficiencies in everything. If we talk only about the fat and calories, an anorexic's body will resort to feeding off of itself, which is why people with severe anorexia may have very little muscle. Bones become brittle, organs shut down because they've not the nutrients to continue functioning properly. Also has similar psychological effects to bulimia nervosa.

Short answer: They're both really, really bad for you in different ways. If you have either, please get help. If you are considering trying to develop either, please don't. They are both very dangerous to your body.

^^ Hey, you copied that comment WORD FOR WORD from this link. I am pretty sure you can get into some trouble for that. I would advise you to stay away from habbits like that.
[url]http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080121000245AAn4dod&show=7[/url]

^Ya, i checked and EVERY word is copied!

One of my friends is struggling with bulimia of the binging-and-purging variety (actually I have multiple friends, both male and female, who either have or had it), and talking with him he said it pretty much ruined his stomach and did some really bad things to his throat, as the stomach acids which are vomited go through the esophagus, causing a lot of damage and degrading it. Furthermore it degrades the enamel on your teeth, making you susceptible to dental caries and other conditions. The non-purging type (who fast and then binge or eat very little and then binge) do not suffer from the vomiting-related issues, but still have very strong psychological issues that need to be addressed. Generally bulimics do not drop to an unhealthy weight because your body absorbs calories while you are eating and not necessarily long after, but there are a whole lot of health issues that come with it.

Anorexia nervosa, however, gives you no nutrients and somebody who never eats or who eats only a barely sustainable amount of food or very calorie-shallow foods will not get enough nutrients and suffer from nutritional deficiencies in everything. If we talk only about the fat and calories, an anorexic's body will resort to feeding off of itself, which is why people with severe anorexia may have very little muscle. Bones become brittle, organs shut down because they've not the nutrients to continue functioning properly. Also has similar psychological effects to bulimia nervosa.

Short answer: They're both really, really bad for you in different ways. If you have either, please get help. If you are considering trying to develop either, please don't.

* 4 months ago

I think that Anorexia is worse because it will kill you faster. Also, the throwing up will burn your throat because of its acidic quality. So therefore i think that anorexia is worse and definitely more life threatening.

^^I think you are a bit confused. Anorexia is an eating disorder in which you don't eat at all. I think you are trying to refer to bullimia which is the eating disorder in which you purge all the time.

Ah...eating disorders.

Bulimia, the good ol' in and out.

Anorexia, the good ol'..err...nothing in and out.

I want to see an eating disorder where people do not eat anything, yet still purge. I will call it "Bulexia." Which sounds like it should be some country.

Anyways! Actually...huh. I have nothing really important to say. Odd.

Eating disorders are bad, m'kay.
XD

I think anerexia is worse because it's all in your head.

Anorexia can be (physically) cured with the addition of food, although you may have to start with easy to digest foods.

Bulimia causes a lot of problems with tooth decay, burning of the esophagus, and overactive acid production in the stomach. So medically that one may be worse.

They both kill people. I think that's 'nuff said.