Imagine a day in which your life was dictated by the food that you ate. Imagine standing on a scale while you ate or purging after eating large amounts of food. Those with eating disorders may engage in some of these activities. Eating disorders are serious conditions that affect millions of people in the U.S. More than ninety percent of those with eating disorders are adolescent and young adult women (Eguia & Bello, 2001). Unfortunately, the consequences of eating disorders can be served and sometimes fatal. This paper will address the major characteristics and distinguishing factors of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa as well as discuss assessment and treatment strategies and issues that family members may be dealing with in regards to these two disorders.
             There are several similar characteristics of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Both disorders typically begin for a person in their adolescence and the majority of cases are reported with females (Eddy, Keel, Dorer, Delinsky, Franko& Herzog, 2002). Often times the consequences of these disorders can be very severe. Many of those with eating disorders suffer from major medical conditions. One in ten cases of anorexia nervosa is fatal. In addition to the fact that both eating disorders can cause medical conditions, both bulimics and anorexics share some personality characteristics. Those with either eating disorder tend to feel isolated and alone (Eddy et al., 2002). They do not want to admit that they have a problem and therefore keep the disorder to themselves. They share characteristics of impulsivity and obsessiveness traits, however, the different disorders have different levels of these two traits (Claes, Vandereycken, Vertommen, 2002).
             Although there are some distinct similarities between the two eating disorders, there are some criteria that distinguish the disorders. Anorexia Nervosa is a condition in which people starve or deprive themselves of food in order t...