Background: distinctive discursive characteristics related to the experience of an eating disorder (ED) in anorectic and bulimic patients have been observed. Material and methods: a descriptive-analytical-qualitative design based on the Grounded Theory model was used. The sample was intentional, and 15 patients were included, 7 anorectics and 8 bulimics, according DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria. Data were collected by a depth interview pattern and analysed by an open codification. Results: differences in perception of the following categories in anorectic versus bulimic patients were detected: sickness notion (diagnostic reception), meanings associated to foods (traumatic versus pleasant experience), body conception (thinness beauty body ideal and dissociated body from the self) and self image (body dissatisfaction related to alexithymia, lack of assertiveness, perfectionism and impulsivity). Conclusion: although ED patients often transit from one diagnostic to another, in their speeches exist some differences related to core ED parameters.