bulimia

Sometimes bou·lim·i·a

[byoo-lim-ee-uh, -lee-mee-uh, boo-, buh-]

noun

1. Also called binge-purge syndrome. Also called bulimia nervosa. Psychiatry.,  a habitual disturbance in eating behavior mostly affecting young women of normal weight, characterized by frequent episodes of grossly excessive food intake followed by self-induced vomiting to avert weight gain.

2. Also called hyperphagia. Pathology.,  abnormally voracious appetite or unnaturally constant hunger.

bulimia

/ bjuːˈlɪmɪə /

noun

1. pathologically insatiable hunger, esp when caused by a brain lesion

2. Also called: bulimia nervosa. a disorder characterized by compulsive overeating followed by vomiting: sometimes associated with anxiety about gaining weight

bulimia

1. An eating disorder characterized by uncontrolled rapid ingestion of large quantities of food over a short period of time, followed by self-induced vomiting, fasting, and other measures to prevent weight gain. It is most common among young women and teenage girls.

bulimia

1. An eating disorder that is characterized by episodic binge eating followed by feelings of guilt or depression and sometimes self-induced vomiting.

Other Word Forms

• bulimic noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bulimia¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from New Latin, from Greek boulīmía “extreme hunger,” equivalent to bou- intensive prefix (derivative of bou-, stem of boûs ox ) + līm(ós) “hunger” + -ia -ia

Word History and Origins

Origin of bulimia¹

C17: from New Latin, from Greek boulimia , from bous ox + limos hunger

Example Sentences

She outlined for the jury a secret struggle with bulimia, saying she had been regularly binge-eating and purging since her teens - something her defence team suggested accounted for her lack of symptoms.

From BBC

The Department of Health said regional adult eating disorder services were commissioned to treat anorexia, bulimia and atypical presentations of these conditions.

From BBC

Yesterday, the court heard that Ms Patterson had struggled with bulimia since her teens and was prone to regularly binge eating and vomiting after meals.

From BBC

The study also suggested some cases of tooth wear were related to gastric acids, with dental screenings revealing patterns similar to those from acid reflux and even in eating disorders like bulimia.

From BBC

The singer had previously suffered multiple health problems, including bulimia, breast cancer and emphysema caused by decades of smoking.

From BBC

Related Words

• hunger 
• starvation