Individuals with anorexia nervosa have an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted body image. They may severely restrict their food intake, engage in excessive exercise, and have an extreme preoccupation with body size and shape. This can lead to extreme thinness and malnutrition.

People with bulimia nervosa often engage in episodes of binge eating, during which they consume large amounts of food in a short period. They then attempt to compensate for the overeating through behaviors such as forced vomiting, excessive exercise, or fasting.

BED involves recurrent episodes of consuming large quantities of food in a short time, accompanied by a sense of loss of control during these episodes. Unlike bulimia, individuals with BED do not regularly engage in compensatory behaviors like vomiting or excessive exercise.

Formerly known as selective eating disorder, ARFID is characterized by limited food preferences, avoidance of certain foods or textures, and insufficient nutritional intake. Unlike anorexia nervosa, individuals with ARFID do not necessarily have a fear of weight gain or a desire for thinness.