What factor differentiates anorexia from bulimia?

The distinguishing factor that differentiates anorexia from bulimia is that anorexia typically leads to extreme weight loss. Anorexia nervosa is characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted body image, which drives individuals to restrict their food intake significantly, leading to severe weight loss and malnutrition. Individuals suffering from anorexia may deny the seriousness of their low body weight and can become dangerously underweight through starvation and excessive exercise.

In contrast, bulimia nervosa is characterized by cycles of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors like purging, excessive exercise, or fasting to prevent weight gain. While bulimia can lead to fluctuations in weight, individuals may not be severely underweight; some may even be of normal weight, making this distinction crucial in identifying the specific eating disorder. This difference in weight and eating patterns is fundamental to understanding and diagnosing these conditions effectively.

The other options do not accurately capture the key differences between the two disorders, making option three the clearest differentiator.