Bulimia is best described as which of the following?

• A. An eating disorder with cycles of binge eating followed by purging or fasting
• B. An eating disorder characterized by persistent under-eating with fear of gaining weight
• C. A disorder involving compulsive shopping
• D. A disorder causing inability to sleep

Answer: (A)

Bulimia nervosa involves repeated cycles of binge eating followed by efforts to prevent weight gain. During a binge, a person consumes a large amount of food in a short period and often feels out of control. To compensate, they engage in purging (such as vomiting or using laxatives) or restrict food intake through fasting or excessive exercise. This combination of bingeing with compensatory behavior is what defines bulimia, so describing cycles of bingeing followed by purging or fasting fits best. The other options describe different issues—severe under-eating with fear of gaining weight points to anorexia nervosa, compulsive shopping is a different disorder, and trouble sleeping relates to insomnia.