Definition

1. Noun:
   • An eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors: This is the primary clinical meaning. It refers to a psychological condition where a person consumes a very large amount of food in a short period (a binge) and then engages in behaviors to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, fasting, or excessive exercise.
   • Pathologically insatiable hunger: A more general, and now less common, medical term for excessive, uncontrollable hunger, which can be caused by certain physical conditions.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • She sought treatment for her bulimia, which involved cycles of secretive binging and purging.
  • The doctor explained that extreme hunger, or bulimia, can sometimes be a symptom of a hypothalamic lesion.

Advanced Usage

• "Bulimia nervosa": The full clinical name for the eating disorder, often used to distinguish it from the general medical term for excessive hunger.
  • Her diagnosis was bulimia nervosa, and her treatment plan included cognitive behavioral therapy.

Variants and Related Words

• Bulimic (adj): Relating to or suffering from bulimia.
  • She is receiving counseling for bulimic behaviors.
• Bulimic (n): A person who suffers from bulimia.
  • The support group provides a safe space for bulimics to share their experiences.

Synonyms

• Binge-eating disorder (specifically for the binge component, though it is a distinct diagnosis without the regular compensatory "purging" behaviors).
• Hyperphagia (a more technical term for excessive, insatiable eating).

Related Phrases

• Binge and purge: A common phrase describing the core behavioral cycle of bulimia nervosa.
  • The destructive cycle of binge and purge took a severe toll on her health.

Noun

1. pathologically insatiable hunger (especially when caused by brain lesions)
2. a disorder of eating seen among young women who go on eating binges and then feel guilt and depression and self-condemnation