The 4 types of bulimia and their characteristics

This eating disorder does not always have the same form: there are several kinds of bulimia.

Bulimia is one of the best known eating disorders, although some people confuse it with anorexia. However, in order to understand the nature of bulimia, it is necessary to clarify that there are different types of bulimia. it is necessary to clarify that there are different types of bulimiaand not a homogeneous diagnostic category.

Below we will see what these types of bulimia are and what their characteristics are. But first, let's start with the basics.

What is bulimia?

Bulimia is an eating disorder characterized by phases of binge eating and purging of what has been eaten or compensatory behaviors. It is associated with severe emotional distress, damage to health and a behavioral dynamic based on impulsivity, as they lose control over what they do and sacrifice long-term projects by simply living in a spiral of binge eating and purging, moments of anxiety and strong sadness associated with low self-esteem.

Unlike anorexia, bulimia usually appears between 18 and 25 years of age and, moreover, is more typical of impulsive and addiction-prone people than of perfectionists and planners.

Phases of this disorder

The phases of bulimia are as follows:

1. Binge eating

It is the ingestion of a lot of food and drink to satiate an impulse.. In addition, usually the food eaten has a high caloric load. It appears abruptly and under a sense of loss of control, since, among other things, one tries to eat as much food as possible in the shortest possible time, filling the mouth and chewing little.

The frequency with which these episodes occur is very variable, and can range from once every several weeks to several times a day. This phase is common in all types of bulimia..

2. Purging and compensatory rituals

After binge eating, there is a feeling of guilt and reactions aimed at reactions aimed at preventing weight gain. Purging usually consists of provoking vomiting by inserting the fingers in the mouth, but in certain cases it can consist of the use of laxatives. Compensatory behaviors are also frequent, such as exercising a lot or trying to fast.

It is believed that this "ritual" is a consequence of the cognitive dissonance generated by the conflict between ideas (I do not want to get fat but I have binge eaten) and by a history of contingencies by which this action has been reinforced.

3. Vigilance state

After these phases, the person remains in a state of preoccupation and vigilancea stage associated with a feeling of discomfort. The state of vigilance contributes to feed the rumination and to make recurrent thoughts appear more frequently.

On the other hand, this condition causes the attention to return constantly to the memory of the experiences linked to the disorder, so that everything that is done appears conditioned by the way in which the person positions him/herself in front of this problem.

Types of bulimia

Having seen the main characteristics of the disorder, let us move on to the types of bulimia. There are two: purging bulimia and non-purging bulimia.

1. Purgative bulimia or purging bulimia

This type of bulimia is characterized by being accompanied by a purging phase.

It is usually carried out in private, but it is not is not planned too much and is also due to an impulse to purge.. In this case, it is a desperate attempt to reverse what has been done and return to the situation before the binge, although its effects are also harmful, because the stomach acid damages the cells of the duct leading to the mouth and wears away the tooth enamel.

Another behavior that characterizes purging bulimia is the use of diuretics. the fact of resorting to diuretics and laxatives, something that also has its associated risks.This also has its associated risks and in any case does not prevent a good part of the calories ingested from passing into the body.

2. Non-purging bulimia

In this type of bulimia after binge eating there is no purging, but a compensatory behavior. Unlike the other method, it is assumed here that what has been eaten will be processed by the digestive system, and therefore no recourse to induced vomiting, diuretics or diuretics or diuretics or laxatives. However, actions are taken to compensate for this calorie intake, such as doing a lot of Cardiovascular exercise or fasting for long periods.

The dangers related to non-nervous bulimia are mainly possible digestion cuts, overuse of muscle groups or cardiovascular accidents, as well as the danger of fasting for too many hours (more than 24 hours can be harmful) and/or becoming dehydrated from attempts to drink too little and not having water on hand.

According to the degree of obesity

Bulimia can also be classified in two types according to the profile of the persons suffering from it.

3. Bulimia associated with obesity

In these cases, the person is overweight to a greater or lesser degree, and feels bad about it. Their identity is already linked to that physical appearance, and that makes their self-esteem very low.and that makes their self-esteem very low.

4. Bulimia associated with variable weight

In this type of bulimia the patient's body weight goes up and down like a yo-yo.. This means that many of these people can continue to believe that they do not have a problem that should be treated by professionals because, although they feel bad, their true identity is that of their version with less weight.

The fact that they often see themselves with little volume and less fat makes them believe that this is "their essence" and that they will return to it at any moment without therapeutic help. It is one of the most reluctant types of bulimia to cause a visit to a doctor's or psychologist's office.