What is the psychological condition characterized by excessive eating followed by purging?

The condition characterized by excessive eating followed by purging is best identified as bulimia. This eating disorder involves cycles of binge eating—a period of consuming large amounts of food in a short time—followed by behaviors aimed at preventing weight gain, such as vomiting, excessive exercise, or using laxatives. Bulimia nervosa is primarily driven by a preoccupation with body image and weight, often leading to feelings of shame and guilt following binge episodes.

Bulimarexia, while it may sound similar, is not a clinically recognized term and can be misleading. It typically refers to a condition where a person exhibits symptoms of both bulimia and anorexia, but it lacks the specificity of bulimia nervosa. Anorexia, on the other hand, involves severe restriction of food intake and an intense fear of gaining weight, creating a very different clinical picture. Overeating disorder typically refers to recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food without compensatory behaviors like purging, making it distinct from bulimia.

Understanding the definitions and characteristics of these disorders helps to clarify why bulimia is the correct diagnosis for the condition involving excessive eating followed by purging.