What is the primary distinguishing characteristic between patients with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa?

The primary distinguishing characteristic between anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa is that patients with bulimia nervosa typically maintain a normal weight. While they may cycle between periods of binging followed by compensatory behaviors such as purging, excessive exercise, or fasting, their overall body weight often remains within a normal range.

In contrast, patients with anorexia nervosa are characterized by significantly low body weight and an intense fear of gaining weight, which often leads to severe caloric restriction. This marked difference in weight can help clinicians differentiate between the two disorders. Therefore, recognizing that bulimia nervosa can manifest in individuals with normal weight is crucial to accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Notably, while some patients with bulimia may not engage in purging—indicating that not all patients exhibit this behavior—this aspect does not affect the core feature of weight status that differentiates these two eating disorders.