What distinguishes anorexia from bulimia?

• A. Anorexia involves self-starvation and bulimia involves purging/bingeing
• B. Anorexia and bulimia are identical
• C. Bulimia involves self-starvation and anorexia involves purging
• D. Both disorders involve binge eating only

Answer: (A)

The main difference is in eating patterns and weight status. Anorexia nervosa centers on severe restriction of food intake that leads to significantly low body weight and a strong fear of gaining weight, often with a distorted body image. Bulimia nervosa, on the other hand, involves recurrent binge eating episodes followed by compensatory behaviors such as purging (vomiting, laxatives) or excessive exercise, and individuals are often of normal weight or only slightly under/overweight. So, the distinguishing feature is restricting intake to stay underweight versus binge eating with purge/compensatory actions after bingeing. The other descriptions mix up these patterns or claim both are purely binge eating, which isn’t accurate.