In eating disorders, how do weight patterns typically differ between anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa?

In eating disorders, how do weight patterns typically differ between anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa?

• A. Anorexia nervosa typically causes weight gain; bulimia causes weight loss
• B. Anorexia nervosa typically causes weight loss; bulimia tends to maintain weight
• C. Both conditions cause weight gain
• D. Both conditions cause unstable, fluctuating weight

Answer: (B)

Understanding how weight changes in these disorders helps distinguish them. Anorexia nervosa is driven by severe restriction of intake relative to needs, so people often become underweight with significant weight loss over time. In bulimia nervosa, there are recurrent binge episodes followed by compensatory behaviors like purging, fasting, or excessive exercise, but many individuals maintain a near-normal weight because the cycles don’t consistently produce a large net weight change. While purging can lead to some weight loss, it doesn’t typically cause the dramatic weight loss seen in anorexia. So, the typical pattern is weight loss in anorexia and weight maintenance (or near-normal weight) in bulimia.

Understanding how weight changes in these disorders helps distinguish them. Anorexia nervosa is driven by severe restriction of intake relative to needs, so people often become underweight with significant weight loss over time. In bulimia nervosa, there are recurrent binge episodes followed by compensatory behaviors like purging, fasting, or excessive exercise, but many individuals maintain a near-normal weight because the cycles don’t consistently produce a large net weight change. While purging can lead to some weight loss, it doesn’t typically cause the dramatic weight loss seen in anorexia. So, the typical pattern is weight loss in anorexia and weight maintenance (or near-normal weight) in bulimia.