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

We will now look at 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 food or compensatory behaviors. It is associated with strong emotional distress, damage to health and a dynamic of behavior based on impulsivity, since control over what you do is lost and long-term projects are sacrificed simply because you live in a spiral of binge eating and purging, moments of anxiety and strong sadness associated with low self-esteem.

Unlike anorexia, bulimia usually occurs between the ages of 18 and 25 and is more typical of impulsive, addiction-prone individuals than perfectionists and planners.

Phases of this disorder

The phases of bulimia are as follows:

1. Bingeing

It is the intake of a lot of food and drink to satisfy an impulse . In addition, normally the foods that are eaten have a high caloric load. It appears abruptly and under a feeling of loss of control, since, among other things, one tries to eat as much food as possible in the shortest time, filling one’s mouth and chewing little.

The frequency with which these episodes occur varies greatly, ranging from once every few weeks to several times a day. This phase is common to all types of bulimia .

2. Purging and compensatory rituals

After the binge, a feeling of guilt appears and reactions aimed at preventing weight gain . Usually, purging consists of making yourself vomit by putting your fingers in your mouth, but in some cases it may involve the use of laxatives. Compensatory behaviors, such as getting plenty of exercise or trying to fast, are also common.

It is believed that this “ritual” is a consequence of the cognitive dissonance generated by the conflict between ideas (I don’t want to get fat but I’ve had a binge) and by a history of contingencies by which this action has been reinforced.

3. Surveillance status

After these phases the person remains in a state of concern and vigilance , a stage associated with a feeling of unease. The state of vigilance contributes to feeding rumination and making recurrent thoughts appear more frequently.

On the other hand, this condition makes attention constantly return to the memory of the experiences linked to the disorder, so that everything that is done appears to be conditioned by the way in which the person positions himself before this problem.

Types of bulimia

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

1. Purgative or purgative bulimia

This type of bulimia is characterized by a purging phase.

It is usually done in private, but is not planned too much and also obeys an impulse . 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 acids of the stomach damage the cells of the canal that leads to the mouth and wears away the enamel of the teeth.

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

2. Non-purgative Bulimia

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

The dangers associated with non-nervous bulimia are mainly possible cuts in digestion, 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 have water on hand.

According to the degree of obesity

Bulimia can also be classified into two types according to the profile of the people who suffer from it .

3. Bulimia associated with obesity

In these cases, the person is more or less overweight and feels bad about it. His identity is already linked to that physical appearance , and that makes his self-esteem very low.

4. Bulimia associated with variable weight

In this type of bulimia, the patients’ body weight goes up and down like a yo-yo . This means that many of these people may 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 lighter version.

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 time without therapeutic help. It is one of the types of bulimia most reluctant to cause a visit to a doctor’s or psychologist’s office.