The 7 differences between vigorexia and bulimia (explained)

We live in a society plagued by pressures and standards of both beauty and expectations that, in the context of the digital age where we are constantly receiving stimuli, mean that our mental health is facing innumerable obstacles. Hence, psychological problems are, without a doubt, one of the great "pandemics" of the 21st century.

And it is precisely in this context, especially when it comes to ridiculous standards of beauty and social pressure, that one of the protagonists of mental health comes into play: eating disorders. Serious pathologies that consist of the acquisition of dangerous behaviors with food.

But, despite their high incidence, affecting about 5% of the world population to a greater or lesser extent, due to all the stigma that exists around them, there are many doubts we have about them. And, without a doubt, one of these most common confusions has to do with vigorexia and bulimia, two of the most common eating disorders along with anorexia.

But what exactly is vigorexia? What about bulimia? What is the difference between them? If you want to find the answer to these and many other questions about both disorders, you have come to the right place. And it is that in today's article and, as always, from the hand of the most prestigious scientific publications, we are going to analyze the clinical and psychological bases of both vigorexia and bulimia nervosa and to investigate, in the form of key points, the main differences between these disorders.

What is vigorexia? And bulimia nervosa?

Before going into depth and presenting the main differences between the two eating disorders, it is interesting (and also important) that we put ourselves in context by defining the clinical and psychological bases of both disorders. In this way, both their relationship and differences will begin to become clear. So let's define what is vigorexia and what is bulimia.

Vigorexia: what is it?

Vigorexia, also known as muscular dysmorphia, is an eating and sports behavior disorder in which the person becomes pathologically obsessed with physical perfection. In other words, it is a mental illness that is based on an unhealthy obsession with having a "perfect" muscular body according to the ridiculous canons of beauty that prevail in society.

It is a more common pathology in men, especially between the ages of 25 and 35, a group in which it can reach an incidence of 4 cases per 10,000 people. In this muscle dysmorphia, there is a distorted view of the body itself, as occurs for example with another disorder such as anorexia, but in this case looking weaker than they really are. As much as they increase their muscle mass, they will look skinny when they look in the mirror.

Hence, vigorexia is also known as inverted anorexia (also as Adonis complex), being a disorder not only of eating behavior that is based on an exaggerated intake of proteins and carbohydrates and anabolic substances to achieve an increase in muscle mass, but also sports, with a pathological addiction to physical exercise, spending all the time training and turning the gym into the second home.

Thus, vigorexia is a psychological disorder that directly affects both diet and lifestyle, as dangerous behaviors are carried out with food (and with the abuse of substances that increase performance and muscle synthesis) and an extreme obsession is acquired for practicing physical activity.

The most common symptoms of muscle dysmorphia include constantly looking in the mirror, making sport a priority in life, neglecting personal relationships, unhealthy preoccupation with meeting calorie and protein intake targets, feeling unwell when not You can train, compare your body with that of others, abandon professional or academic obligations, etc.

Obviously, adopting eating and sports habits to have a body that we are comfortable with has nothing wrong at all. But we do speak of vigorexia when this desire and desire to be physically perfect becomes a pathological obsession and sick mania that ends up compromising the physical and emotional health of the person.

Bulimia: what is it?

Bulimia nervosa, known simply as bulimia, is an eating disorder in which the person, after binge eating, feels an unhealthy need to get rid of the calories ingested. It is, therefore, a pathology with a very intense compulsive component that is reflected in binges that are followed by compensatory behaviors.

These compensatory behaviors may or may not be purging. In purgative bulimia, the bulimic person, after binge eating, performs a purging phase that, although it may consist of the administration of laxatives or diuretics, is usually based on the induction of vomiting. Thus, vomiting immediately after a binge is the clearest sign of a case of bulimia.

Even so, there is also non-purgative bulimia, one in which binge eating is not accompanied by the act of vomiting as a purging attitude, but by the practice of excessive physical exercise or days of fasting to compensate for this compulsive caloric intake.

Be that as it may, what is clear is that there is no restriction of caloric intake, as in the case of anorexia, but quite the opposite. And it is that with a greater or less frequency, the bulimic person will have moments of eating, with an evident loss of self-control, excessive amounts of food, after which they will adopt purgative compensatory attitudes (vomiting, mainly) or non-purgative (long exercise sessions cardiovascular fitness or long periods of fasting).

There is a deep and pathological fear of gaining weight, which is what explains the unhealthy need to expel the calories ingested. Bulimia is diagnosed, yes, when post-binge purges occur at least once a week. And to the physical and psychological damages per se, it should be added, in the case of purging, complications from repeated induction of vomiting.

However, unlike anorexia, the bulimic person usually has a body weight within the ranges considered normal. But it is precisely the non-observation of an underweight that makes it difficult for the patient's environment to detect that there is a problem. A problem that, in this case, mainly affects young women, with a particularly high effect between 18 and 25 years.

And taking into account its relatively high prevalence and that its mortality rate, due to the physical and psychological impact of the disease, stands at 5%, it means that, at the slightest hint of doubt, we must urge the person to seek care psychological.

How are bulimia and vigorexia different?

After analyzing both pathologies, it has surely become clear that bulimia and vigorexia, beyond being included in the group of eating behavior disorders, are very different from each other. Even so, in case you need (or simply want) to have the information in a more concise way and with a more visual character, we have prepared the following selection of the main differences between vigorexia and bulimia nervosa in the form of key points.

1. Bulimia is an eating disorder; vigorexia, also sports

One of the most important differences. And it is that while bulimia is considered entirely as an eating disorder, vigorexia does not fit, technically, in this group. And it is that it not only focuses on eating, but it is mainly a sports behavior disorder. Anyway, this differentiation is just a nuance. Both disorders revolve around the relationship with food.

2. In bulimia there is fear of gaining weight; in vigorexia, for not having a perfect body

In bulimia, the greatest fear that exists is that of gaining weight, since the bulimic person looks more overweight than they actually are. Hence, after compulsive binge eating, he adopts purgative compensatory attitudes (mainly induction of vomiting) or non-purgative (doing long sports sessions or long periods of fast).

However, vigorexia focuses on the fear of not having a muscularly perfect body. Hence, sport is used not as a compensatory measure as in bulimia, but as the main means that, accompanied by an excessive intake of proteins, carbohydrates and even anabolic substances, allows to increase muscle mass and burn fat. That is, precisely what you want in vigorexia is to gain weight.

3. Bulimia is expressed with purges; vigorexia, with an obsession for sports

As we say, bulimia is based on compensatory attitudes after binge eating, which, in most cases, consists of the induction of vomiting. Vomiting is, in this sick despair, the best way to get rid of calories. On the other hand, in vigorexia these purges are not observed, but a sick obsession with sports and eating caloric foods that stimulate the synthesis of muscle mass.

4. Bulimia is more common in women; vigorexia, in men

Bulimia is especially common among women. In fact, while only between 0.1% and 0.5% of men develop bulimia throughout their lives, the percentage of women who suffer from this disorder can reach 6%. On the other hand, the exact opposite happens in the case of vigorexia, a disorder in which 80% of those who suffer from it are men.

5. In bulimia there are triggers; in vigorexia, they are not clear

In bulimia, the triggers that have led the patient to develop this problem can generally be located, with low self-esteem, self-demand, poor family communication, childhood trauma and low body satisfaction being the most common. On the other hand, in vigorexia, triggers or stressors are not usually located prior to the development of the problem.

6. Vigorexia usually appears later than bulimia

It is not only sex that makes the difference between disorders. The age of onset, that is, the age group with the highest incidence, is also different. And it is that while bulimia usually appears between the ages of 18 and 25, vigorexia generally develops between the ages of 25 and 35.

7. The distorted perception of the body is opposite

In both disorders, a distorted perception of the body occurs. But the way it happens is the opposite. And it is that while in bulimia the person perceives himself to be more overweight than he actually is, the vigorous person, no matter how much muscle mass he has, will always look weak and puny. This explains why the obsessions in both pathologies focus on different things.