Eating Disorder Awareness Week: What are the similarities and differences between binge-eating disorder and bulimia nervosa?

This week is Eating Disorder Awareness Week – a chance to raise awareness about eating disorders and the support that’s available to people going through emotional eating. Eating disorders, like bulimia (bulimia nervosa) and binge-eating disorder, can involve using food as a way of controlling individual emotions as a coping mechanism. It’s important to know that if you, or someone you love, is experiencing an eating disorder that you are not alone. Treatment is available and most people can recover with the right support around them.

What is binge eating disorder?

Binge-eating disorder involves consuming large quantities of food in a short space of time. People experiencing binge-eating disorder may feel unable to stop consuming food during a binge, which may result in them feeling upset, anxious or ashamed in the aftermath. The loss of control during a binge can lead to sufferers feeling uncomfortably full because of the amount of food that has been consumed. Many people who experience binge-eating disorder will eat quickly and sometimes alone, to hide what they are doing from those around them. Binges can occur when someone is feeling angry, stressed or anxious, but they can also happen when someone is feeling happy and in a good place. BED is not a case of just ‘overindulging’ – it’s an eating disorder that can be extremely distressing and difficult to manage.

Is bulimia different to binge-eating disorder?

The main difference between bulimia and binge-eating disorder is that people experiencing bulimia will try to rid their body of the food they have consumed, to try and prevent weight gain. This could be in the form of self-induced sickness, taking laxatives, excessive exercise or trying not to eat at all for a long period of time. Bulimia can dominate day to day life and feel mentally draining. This is because of the guilt that sufferers can experience and the pressure they put on themselves to rid their bodies of what they have consumed. Bulimia can also cause physical health problems as well as emotional difficulties. It can lead to abdominal pain, irregular periods and tiredness as a result of the purging, as well as damage to teeth and the stomach.

What are the similarities between the two?

There are a lot of similarities between bulimia and binge-eating disorder. These include:

• Emotional distress: Both eating disorders involve periods of binge-eating over a short space of time and both can lead to severe emotional distress in the aftermath of a binge.
• Changes in mood: Bulimia and binge-eating disorder can result in a change in behaviour or mood, as people experiencing an eating disorder may withdraw from doing the things they usually enjoy.
• Concealing behaviours: It can be difficult to spot the signs of bulimia or binge-eating disorder as people going through them will often try to hide it from others. People with binge eating disorder will tend to binge privately, away from others, and then get rid of the evidence so that they are not found out. Bulimia sufferers on the other hand may try to hide their purging by using private bathrooms, wearing loose clothing or keeping purging tools, such as laxatives, secret from others.

How can I access support for bulimia or binge-eating disorder?

The best way to recover from bulimia or binge eating disorder is to get treatment as soon as possible. If you are experiencing an eating disorder, or you are worried about someone who you suspect has an eating disorder, contact your GP and arrange an appointment. They may then make a referral to the Community Eating Disorder Service, or they might signpost you to another service or organisation who is better placed to help.

TALKWORKS can provide talking therapies for people with symptoms of bulimia or binge-eating disorder to help them to develop a healthier relationship with food and their emotions. We also work closely with community eating disorder teams as part of the First Episode Rapid Early Intervention for Eating Disorders (FREED) pathway. We have FREED champions within the service, who offer monthly assessment appointments specifically for patients (age 18-25) eligible for FREED. If you are over the age of 25, and living in Devon (outside Plymouth) you can still access support from TALKWORKS clinicians. You can self-refer to TALKWORKS online or by calling 0300 555 3344, or your GP can make a referral on your behalf.

Our Devon Partnership NHS Trust colleagues working at the Haldon in Wonford House, Exeter, offer an intensive treatment programme for people experiencing a severe eating disorder (including bulimia and unspecified eating disorders). As part of a longer-term recovery plan, care can be provided on a residential or non-residential basis, depending on the needs of the person.

Other organisations that can help

• BEAT: A UK charity which helps people experiencing eating disorders. They can help with a range of eating disorders and have a helpline as well as online support services and information.
• Families Empowered and Supporting Treatment of Eating Disorders (F.E.A.S.T) helps families and loved ones of people with an eating disorder. Their support includes peer support platforms, programmes and online groups.