Final answer:
Outcomes for anorexia nervosa are often seen as more successful than for bulimia nervosa due to the potentially severe and immediate health consequences that may prompt urgent interventions. The recovery rates with treatment vary between 50 to 85 percent, but the presence of pro-ana websites can impede proper understanding and treatment of these disorders.
Step-by-step explanation:
Outcomes for Anorexia Nervosa versus Bulimia Nervosa
The outcomes for individuals with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa can vary considerably, based on a range of factors including the severity of the disorder, access to treatment, and individual differences. Anorexia nervosa is characterized by a maintenance of body weight significantly below average through starvation or excessive exercise, often combined with a distorted body image, a phenomenon known as body dysmorphia. Bulimia nervosa involves binge-eating followed by compensatory behaviors such as purging or excessive exercise to prevent weight gain.
Research indicates that recovery rates from eating disorders are roughly 50 to 85 percent with treatment. However, outcomes for anorexia are often perceived as more successful compared to those for bulimia, partly because the health consequences of anorexia, such as bone loss, heart failure, and kidney failure, can be more immediately severe. This could possibly motivate individuals and health professionals towards more urgent and intensive interventions. It is important to have reliable information on these disorders, particularly as pro-ana sites on the internet may give misleading and dangerous advice that promotes eating disorders as a lifestyle choice rather than recognizing them as serious mental health conditions.