Dying to be thin Anorexia and bulimia are the most common eating disorders today. They are both psychological disorders with obsession with food and weight. There are many misconceptions in today's society about anorexia and bulimia. Mainly that they are the same disorder, however they are not, they are very different. Anorexia and bulimia are serious and life-threatening eating disorders that affect millions of people every year, yet their differences in symptoms, effects and treatment may surprise you. Eating disorders are complex and devastating, they are so common that 1 or 2 out of every 100 students struggle with one. (“Eating Disorders, n.d.”) Anorexia and bulimia are not lifestyle choices, they are serious disorders with possible life-threatening consequences. Both eating disorders include extreme attitudes about weight and eating problems. Most people believe they are the same, even though they have similarities, their differences are quite notable. Anorexics have an intense fear of gaining weight. They deprive themselves of food resulting in extreme weight loss. Anorexic people have an inability to see the severity of their eating disorder. They look in the mirror and don't see a thin person, they see an overweight person. Their body perception is distorted. In contrast, bulimic people consume large quantities of food and induce vomiting to expel it. They feel “out of control” when they eat. They often feel guilty for eating too much. They have body image issues and exercise excessively and use laxatives to reduce their weight. Most people who suffer from bulimia recognize that their problem is simply having that out-of-control feeling during binge eating episodes. The symptoms of anorexia and... middle of paper... differences that make them separate entities. Recognizing this can help the person seek the right treatment and hopefully set them on the path to a healthier, happier life. References Anorexia vs Bulimia. (n.d.). Retrieved May 7, 2014, from www.diffen.com/Anorexia_Nervosa_vs_Bulimia_NervosaComer, R.J. (September 20, 2013). Eating disorders: anorexia nervosa vs bulimia nervosa. Retrieved May 7, 2014, from http://www.psychtreatment.com/eating_disorders_anorexia_vs_bulimia.htmEating Disorders. (n.d.). Retrieved May 8, 2014, from www.kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/problems/eat_disorders.htmlMFHealthHub (2011, February 18). Anorexia vs Bulimia: Finding Similarities and Differences. Retrieved May 7, 2014, from http://mfhealthhub.hubpages.com/hub/Anorexia-vs-Bulimia-Finding-their-Similarities-and-differences