What is the primary difference between anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa?

Eating disorders represent a complex psychopathology involving distorted body image and maladaptive weight-control behaviors. These conditions often involve neuroendocrine dysregulation and significant physiological disturbances, where the individual's sense of self-worth becomes inextricably linked to caloric restriction or compensatory purging cycles. Rationale: A. Ego-syntonic behavior is a hallmark of anorexia, where the client views their restriction as a sign of strength and mastery. Conversely, bulimia is often ego-dystonic, meaning the client feels remorse and intense guilt regarding their binge-purge cycles, often hiding their behaviors due to significant social stigma. B. Both disorders have a multifactorial etiology involving complex interactions between genetics and environment. Biological markers like serotonin levels are implicated in both, but neither disorder is strictly limited to a single origin; they both possess deep psychosocial and biological roots. C. Although both involve a preoccupation with weight, the clinical presentations and psychological motivations differ significantly. Anorexia is characterized by extreme emaciation and refusal to maintain a minimum body weight, whereas bulimia often involves clients who maintain a relatively normal or fluctuating weight range. D. Both conditions carry a high risk of mortality due to medical complications or suicide. Anorexia has the highest death rate of any psychiatric disorder due to starvation or cardiac collapse, while bulimia poses immediate risks like electrolyte imbalances and esophageal rupture from frequent emesis.