What is Bulimarexia?

Bulimarexia is characterized as an eating disorder. It is also defined as an EDNOS (eating disorder not otherwise specified). 

Some people say that bulimia and anorexia are two separate disorders that affect different types of people. This is not entirely true. When one is diagnosed with an EDNOS, a few things are taken into account. Someone with an EDNOS fits most, but not all of the criteria for both bulimia and anorexia. I.E., a patient is purging but not binge eating, while at the same time restricting calories, but not to the extreme nature of someone who is anorexic. To have an EDNOS, you may be overweight, at a normal weight, or even underweight. However, this is still a very serious disorder. Some even argue that the combination of the two disorders is a more serious, long-term, life threatening condition because a patient is experiencing the negative impacts that come from both bulimia and anorexia. 

Many times, people who suffer from this type of eating disorder begin by having bulimia. With bulimia, less weight is lost than anorexia. Oftentimes, bulimics more intent on losing weight will try to shift over to becoming anorexic. This is when you have cases of bulimarexia. That stage in between creates a whole new type of disorder. Finally, as the patient moves closer into becoming fully anorexic, they realize that they are able to not eat anything at all because they have the ability to purge whatever they consume (this differs from anorexics who eat small amounts of food at certain times). This is when an EDNOS becomes most dangerous. 

Eating disorders are, oftentimes, hard to detect. If someone you know may be suffering from an eating disorder, there are a lot of useful resources that can guide you through the process of getting that person help.