Bulimarexia, as its name suggests, is an eating disorder that causes it’s suffers to experience a combination of both bulimia and anorexia.
Generally medical practitioners who accept “bulimarexia” as an eating disorder in it’s own right say it is:
Primarily a form of anorexia nervosa with components of bulimia nervosa…
To date there is no diagnostic criteria specifically for “Bulimarexia” in the Diagnostic and Statistics Manual (DSM IV) so people with bulimarexia are typically diagnosed with an eating disorder not otherwise specified (ED-NOS).
ED-NOS is a term that we use to describe people who clearly have disordered eating but who do not fit the diagnostic criteria for anorexia, bulimia or compulsive over eating.
Suffering from both elements of anorexia and bulimia is nothing new and bulimarexia research suggests that it’s on the rise…
Take a look at the results from this national eating disorder survey conducted just a couple of years ago that shows some quite striking bulimarexia statistics:
I think it sounds like I have bulimarexia because I do not fully fit in with anorexia or bulimia. I have periods where I will restrict and then periods where I will eat and purge everything I eat and I exercise a lot. (Bulimia Help Member)
Many of our members here at Bulimia Help talk about how they struggle with elements of both eating disorders…
So I identify 100% with bulimarexia. I honestly never thought anyone else lived the way I did. I never thought it was a disorder, I simply thought I was weird. (Bulimia Help Member, 2010)
I thought I just had bulimia without the binging until I realized that the criteria for bulimia says you have to binge. Then I thought I had purging anorexia, now I know it’s bulimarexia. (Bulimia Help Member, 2009)
Do you have bulimia?
Labels, labels, EVERYWHERE!
The truth is there are so many different labels for various types and combinations of eating disorders these days that it can often be hard to see where your own eating disorder fits in.
Often when people talk about suffering with “bulimia without bingeing“, having “non-purging bulimia“, or experiencing a mostly “restrictive” eating disorder they may in fact be suffering from bulimarexia.
Does it really matter what your label is?
As always the most important thing has to be seeking help and support that is right for you, regardless of the label, I mean it’s just a name right?
Whether you have Bulimia, Anorexia or any other type of eating disorder – Whether you just exhibit signs of disordered eating like chewing food and spitting it out or binge and purge every day it is important to remember that you deserve and need additional help and support.
Of course there’s no denying that some eating disorders are more dangerous than others…
The health risks with bulimarexia are considerable
As much as we all want to duck for cover whenever anyone mentions the side effects of bulimia and other eating disorders, it’s always important to educate yourself on the facts, even when the facts are things you would rather pretend did not exist.
Many studies, researchers, medical and psychological professionals say that Bulimarexia is probably physically the most dangerous and life-threatening of all the eating disorders.
When you think about the various physical and psychological health implications that bulimia and anorexia cause alone, it’s easy to see how they can be a deadly combination.
Living with bulimarexia…
When you have bulimarexia you often bounce back and froth from the symptoms of one condition to the other.
We know that the most obvious characteristic of anorexia is severe restriction and habitually binging and purging are the primary characteristic of bulimia.
When you have bulimarexia some days you may feel like your just living with bulimia and other days just anorexia.
Recovery from bulimarexia may be more challenging but people can and do recover!
[I had bulimarexia] before but not anymore.. I used to starve myself in couples of days and then b/p in couples of days .. But now I am better”
Binge Code Member
