The primary factor that differentiates bulimia nervosa from binge eating disorder is the presence of compensatory behaviors.
Bulimia Nervosa: Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain. Binge eating in this context refers to consuming a large amount of food in a discrete period, accompanied by a sense of lack of control over eating during that time. Following the binge, individuals with bulimia typically engage in compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives or diuretics, fasting, or excessive exercise. These compensatory behaviors are used as an attempt to "undo" the effects of the binge and to manage weight.
Binge Eating Disorder: Binge eating disorder, on the other hand, involves recurrent episodes of binge eating, similar to bulimia, where a person consumes a significant amount of food in a short period and feels a loss of control over their eating. However, unlike bulimia nervosa, individuals with binge eating disorder do not engage in compensatory behaviors such as vomiting, purging, or excessive exercise. As a result, people with binge eating disorder often experience overweight or obesity due to the lack of compensatory mechanisms to control their weight.
In summary, the key difference between bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder lies in the presence of compensatory behaviors. Bulimia involves binge eating followed by attempts to compensate for the binge through purging or other methods to avoid weight gain, while binge eating disorder solely involves the recurrent binge eating episodes without compensatory behaviors.