Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrognosisCopingPurging Disorder vs. BulimiaFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Symptoms

Causes

Diagnosis

Treatment

Prognosis

Coping

Purging Disorder vs. Bulimia

Frequently Asked Questions

Purging disorder is defined as recurrent purging behavior to influence weight or shape in the absence ofbinge eating.Purging behavior includes vomiting, excessive exercise, extreme fasting, and using laxatives or diuretics (water pills) to control weight. Purging disorder is a serious and life-threatening disorder, yet it is treatable.

This disorder falls under the umbrella diagnosis of “other specified feeding or eating disorders (OSFED)” in the fifth edition of the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders” (DSM-5). In previous editions of the DSM, it was known as “eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS).”

Verywell / Laura Porter

Illustration of a person sitting on the floor in a bathroom (What to Know About Purging Disorder)

Purging Disorder Symptoms

Eating disorders are complex and can present with an array of emotional, behavioral, and physical symptoms. The below symptoms are used in diagnosing an OSFED. Symptoms specifically for purging include, but are not limited to:

What Does It Mean to Purge?

Eating disorders typically appear in late adolescence and early adulthood, but risk factors are often present in early adolescence.There is no clear cause of purging disorder, rather there is a combination of causes.

Often eating disorders, like purging disorder, occur in conjunction with other psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and alcohol and drug abuse problems. In addition, genes and heritability can also play a role in increasing the risk of developing an eating disorder.

Certain personality traits, emotions, thinking patterns, and biological and environmental factors might be responsible.

Purging disorder is also associated with an elevated risk of suicide and intentional self-harm.

Help Is AvailableIf you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call911.

Help Is Available

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call911.

To be diagnosed with purging disorder, a person must present with feeding or eating behaviors that cause clinically significant distress and impairment, but do not meet the full criteria for any of the other disorders, such asanorexia,bulimia, orbinge eating disorder.

Identifying purging behaviors (such as excessive exercise, vomiting, and laxative and diuretic use) and complications of purging behaviors can help clinicians diagnose this type of eating disorder.

Treatment of any eating disorder is typically more successful the earlier it is detected.Treatment involves a multidisciplinary approach, which includes guidance from a physician, registered dietitian, psychiatrist, psychotherapist, and other therapists as needed.

Depending on the severity of the disease, the course of treatment will be different. Often, a single therapy is not effective for every person with an eating disorder. Therefore, an individualized approach may be warranted. Many people with eating disorders benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy.

Genna Hymowitz, clinical assistant professor at Stony Brook University in New York, tells Verywell, “Purging disorder is generally treated using enhanced cognitive behavioral therapy, which is a version of cognitive behavioral therapy that was developed to help individuals with many types of disordered eating.

“Overall, there is very limited research looking at treatments specifically tailored to purging disorders. However, the research available does suggest that there is no significant difference in treatment outcomes between individuals with purging disorder and individuals with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa.”

In general, treatment of eating disorders can be easier if treatment begins before the disorder becomes chronic. But even people who’ve been experiencing eating disorders for years can and do recover.

For family members or loved ones of a person with an eating disorder, coping can be challenging. A strong support network is essential.

It’s important to take care of your own needs and ask for help when you need it. Consider seeking counseling to help you work through feelings and situations. Mental health professionals can also help you to create tools for coping.

If you are a person living with purging disorder, know that it’s OK to ask for help and that there are many resources available to guide you along your journey.

The main distinguishing factor between purging disorder and bulimia is that people with purging disorder do not binge. They may have feelings of shame or guilt after eating, but this can occur even when eating a small amount of food.

Hymowitz says, “One important thing to note is that some clinicians and researchers are proposing changes to the criteria we use to diagnose bulimia nervosa so that it includes individuals who feel out of control when eating or eat differently than they normally would but may not eat a large amount of food.

“This would likely mean that individuals who might now meet criteria for purging disorder would be considered as meeting criteria for a diagnosis of bulimia nervosa.”

Summary

Purging disorder is a serious eating disorder classified under the umbrella term OSFED. In purging disorder, a person does not binge eat but repeatedly uses purging behavior such as vomiting, excessive exercise, fasting, or using medications to influence weight or shape.

A Word From Verywell

Purging disorder is serious, but the good news is that, with early detection and intervention, it is treatable. If you think that you or someone you love has purging disorder, it’s important to seek medical and psychological intervention as soon as possible.

Binge eating disorder and bulimia can involve both binging and purging. In addition, some people who have anorexia may also binge and purge. This diagnosis is often referred to as anorexia nervosa binge purge subtype.

In addition, people with purging disorder may feel guilt or shame after eating a small amount of food, while people with bulimia often binge on large quantities of food, feeling out of control while eating, and as a result, use some form or purging (like vomiting) afterward.

Purging disorder can affect many parts of your body. Researchers have found that people with purging disorder have medical conditions affecting their teeth, esophagus, gastrointestinal system, kidneys, skin, cardiovascular system, and musculoskeletal system. Self-induced vomiting causes the most medical complications.“Its effects are similar to binge eating disorder,” says Hymowitz. “Excessive vomiting can cause tooth decay, vitamin insufficiencies, electrolyte imbalances and, relatedly, dehydration and heart problems, digestive difficulties, erosion of the esophagus and mood swings.”

Purging disorder can affect many parts of your body. Researchers have found that people with purging disorder have medical conditions affecting their teeth, esophagus, gastrointestinal system, kidneys, skin, cardiovascular system, and musculoskeletal system. Self-induced vomiting causes the most medical complications.

“Its effects are similar to binge eating disorder,” says Hymowitz. “Excessive vomiting can cause tooth decay, vitamin insufficiencies, electrolyte imbalances and, relatedly, dehydration and heart problems, digestive difficulties, erosion of the esophagus and mood swings.”

If you know someone who has purging disorder, please get them help. If you do not know any doctors specializing in eating disorders, you may first consult with a primary care physician, who will be able to connect you with a registered dietitian and mental health professional.

The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) has an entire section on its website dedicated to finding help and support. This can also be a good place to start.

5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Eating Disorders Association.Other specified feeding and eating disorder.Forney KJ, Buchman-Schmitt JM, Keel PK, Frank GK.The medical complications associated with purging.Int J Eat Disord. 2016;49(3):249-259. doi:10.1002/eat.22504Rohde P, Stice E, Marti CN.Development and predictive effects of eating disorder risk factors during adolescence: Implications for prevention efforts.International Journal of Eating Disorders. 2015;48(2):187-198. doi:10.1002/eat.22270American Psychiatric Association.What are eating disorders.Cleveland Clinic.Anorexia nervosa.

5 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Eating Disorders Association.Other specified feeding and eating disorder.Forney KJ, Buchman-Schmitt JM, Keel PK, Frank GK.The medical complications associated with purging.Int J Eat Disord. 2016;49(3):249-259. doi:10.1002/eat.22504Rohde P, Stice E, Marti CN.Development and predictive effects of eating disorder risk factors during adolescence: Implications for prevention efforts.International Journal of Eating Disorders. 2015;48(2):187-198. doi:10.1002/eat.22270American Psychiatric Association.What are eating disorders.Cleveland Clinic.Anorexia nervosa.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

National Eating Disorders Association.Other specified feeding and eating disorder.Forney KJ, Buchman-Schmitt JM, Keel PK, Frank GK.The medical complications associated with purging.Int J Eat Disord. 2016;49(3):249-259. doi:10.1002/eat.22504Rohde P, Stice E, Marti CN.Development and predictive effects of eating disorder risk factors during adolescence: Implications for prevention efforts.International Journal of Eating Disorders. 2015;48(2):187-198. doi:10.1002/eat.22270American Psychiatric Association.What are eating disorders.Cleveland Clinic.Anorexia nervosa.

National Eating Disorders Association.Other specified feeding and eating disorder.

Forney KJ, Buchman-Schmitt JM, Keel PK, Frank GK.The medical complications associated with purging.Int J Eat Disord. 2016;49(3):249-259. doi:10.1002/eat.22504

Rohde P, Stice E, Marti CN.Development and predictive effects of eating disorder risk factors during adolescence: Implications for prevention efforts.International Journal of Eating Disorders. 2015;48(2):187-198. doi:10.1002/eat.22270

American Psychiatric Association.What are eating disorders.

Cleveland Clinic.Anorexia nervosa.

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