Final answer:
Anorexia nervosa is distinguished from bulimia nervosa by the presence of abnormally low body weight. Anorexic individuals are significantly underweight due to restrictive eating and excessive exercise, while bulimic individuals may binge eat but maintain a normal weight through compensatory behaviors.
Therefore, option D is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
The distinction that separates anorexia nervosa from bulimia nervosa is the presence of abnormally low body weight. Anorexia nervosa involves maintaining a body weight that is significantly below average through starvation and/or excessive exercise. Individuals with this disorder possess a distorted body image and see themselves as overweight even when they are actually underweight. On the other hand, bulimia nervosa is characterized by episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors such as purging, using laxatives, or excessive exercise to compensate for the perceived excess caloric intake.
While both disorders involve an intense fear of gaining weight, those suffering from anorexia generally have a noticeably low body weight, whereas individuals with bulimia may maintain a normal weight despite their disordered eating patterns. Bulimia nervosa can result in serious health problems like electrolyte imbalances, kidney and heart failure, and is often associated with anxiety and depression. Therefore, the correct answer to the question of what distinguishes anorexia nervosa from bulimia nervosa is D. abnormally low body weight.