Bulimia nervosa classification

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Yashasvi Aryaputra[2]

Bulimia nervosa may be classified in to two types on the basis of purging behavior into purging and non-purging types.

Two subtypes of bulimia are distinguished by the way the bulimic relieves themselves of the binge.

Purging type is the more common type of bulimia, and involves any of self-induced vomiting, laxatives, diuretics, tapeworms, enemas, or ipecac, to rapidly extricate the contents from their body.^[1]

Non-purging type occurs in only approximately 6%-8% of bulimia cases, as it is a less effective means of ridding the body of such a large number of calories. It involves doing excessive exercise or fasting after a binge, to counteract the large amount of calories previously ingested. This often occurs in purging-type bulimics but is a secondary form of weight control.^[2]