bulimia

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

noun

1. Also called binge-purge syn·drome [binj, -, purj, sin-drohm], 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. Compare anorexia nervosa.
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 calledbulimia nervosa a disorder characterized by compulsive overeating followed by vomiting: sometimes associated with anxiety about gaining weight

bulimia

/ bo̅o̅-lē′mē-ə /

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.

Derived Forms

• buˈlimic, nounadjective

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

After recovering from bulimia and alcohol abuse, quitting acting, and working through therapy, McCurdy tells a story of healing.

From Time

A major plot of Physical chronicles how Sheila navigates a severe bulimia disorder.

From The Daily Beast

Diana spoke openly about her marriage, her struggles with postnatal depression and bulimia, and confirmed her extramarital affair with army officer James Hewitt.

From Time

Institutionally, however, the so-called nature prescription gets surprisingly little attention when it comes to anorexia, bulimia, and related conditions.

From Outside Online

In figuring out how to address her bulimia, Netflix worked with a United Kingdom eating disorder charity, the Beat.

From Washington Post

Binge eating and purging does the same for someone with bulimia.

From The Daily Beast

Others shared stories of friends who suffered from bulimia in an open secret.

From The Daily Beast

Other risk factors include a history of sexual abuse and bulimia, both of which also affect more women than men.

From The Daily Beast

She struggled with bulimia and, when she was anxious, would eat excessively.

From The Daily Beast

Bruni candidly writes of his weight struggles, which included bulimia, laxative abuse, and junk-food binges.

From The Daily Beast

It is a species of bulimia—an insatiable appetite, which "grows by what it feeds on."

From Project Gutenberg

From hence they marched through snow the whole of the following day, and many of the men contracted the bulimia.

From Project Gutenberg

In adults there is sometimes bulimia and a marked capriciousness of the appetite.

From Project Gutenberg

The patient may develop an enormous appetite—what we call bulimia—eating several times as much as she does ordinarily.

From Project Gutenberg

Hence they marched through snow the whole of the following day, and many of the men contracted the bulimia.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• hunger
• starvation