What key behavior differentiates binge eating disorder from bulimia nervosa?

• A. Binge eating disorder is always associated with severe underweight and amenorrhea while bulimia nervosa always results in obesity and metabolic disease.
• B. Binge eating disorder is defined by purging after binges with laxatives only, whereas bulimia nervosa is defined by restriction followed by occasional overeating that is not enough to be a binge.
• C. Binge eating disorder involves recurrent binge episodes without compensatory purging behaviors, whereas bulimia nervosa includes binge episodes followed by compensatory purging behaviors.
• D. Binge eating disorder only occurs in males and is associated with increased athletic performance, whereas bulimia nervosa occurs exclusively in females with aesthetic-sport backgrounds.

Answer: (C)