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

Whaite explained he has bulimia, an eating disorder, and body dysmorphia, where a person perceives defects in their own body which are often less noticeable to others.

Read more on BBC

But in her four memoirs, she safely bared all in print, openly confronting her harsh inner critic, her battle with bulimia, and — yes, Alvy — her musings on death.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In addition, eating disorders such as bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder often occur alongside addictive eating.

Read more on Salon

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.

Read more on BBC

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

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• hunger 
• starvation