Are you classified as bulimic if you eat around 500 cals a day exercise and only throw up sometimes?

Answer 1

No.

A person suffering from bulimia binges then does inappropriate compensatory actions, such as purging or taking laxatives or diuretics or over-exercising. To be classified as bulimic, a person must meet the DSM-IV guidelines:

# Recurrent episodes of binge eating. An episode of binge eating is characterized by both of the following:(1) Eating, in a discrete period of time (eg, within any 2-hour period), an amount of food that is definitely larger than most people would eat during a similar period of time and under similar circumstances.(2) A sense of lack of control over eating during the episode (eg, a feeling that one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating). # Recurrent inappropriate compensatory behavior in order to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting; misuse of laxatives, diuretics, enemas or other medications; fasting or excessive exercise. # The binge eating and inappropriate compensatory behaviors both occur, on average, at least twice a week for 3 months. # Self-evaluation is unduly influenced by body shape and weight. # The disturbance does not occur exclusively during episodes of anorexia nervosa. Specify type: * Purging type: During the current episode of bulimia nervosa, the person has regularly engaged in self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics or enemas. * Nonpurging type: During the current episode of bulimia nervosa, the person has used inappropriate compensatory behaviors, such as fasting or excessive exercise, but has not regularly engaged in self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics or enemas.

A person with anorexia can either have purging-type anorexia (restricted food intake with purging) or restricting-type anorexia (solely based on caloric restriction). To be classified as anorexic, you must meet DSM-IV-TR guidelines:

# Refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for age and height (e.g., weight loss leading to maintenance of body weight less than 85% of that expected; or failure to make expected weight gain during period of growth, leading to body weight less than 85% of that expected). # Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming obese. # Disturbance in the way in which one's body weight or shape is experienced, undue influence of body weight or shape on self-evaluation, or denial of the seriousness of the current low body weight. # The absence of at least three consecutive menstrual cycles (amenorrhea), in women who have had their first menstrual period but have not yet gone through menopause (postmenarcheal, premenopausal females).

However, a person who does not meet all of the elements of either the Bulimia Nervosa or Anorexia Nervosa diagnosis may still have a serious eating disorder. EDNOS (eating disorder not otherwise specified) can still be a very serious diagnosis. If you think that you or someone you know is suffering from an eating disorder of any kind, it is crucial to seek professional (medical and psychological) help immediately.