HealthAugust 13, 2026

bulimia

byoo-LIM-ee-uh

Definition

A serious eating disorder characterized by a cycle of bingeing, followed by methods of purging to prevent weight gain.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek word 'boulimia', meaning 'ravenous hunger', which combines 'bous' (ox) and 'limos' (hunger) to imply an hunger great enough to eat an ox.

In the news

Although the article focuses on anorexia, it mentions bulimia as a related eating disorder to differentiate between the neurological habit-forming patterns observed in different patient groups.

Food decisions in anorexia engage brain region tied to inflexible habits, study finds

Read the full article ↗

Medical Xpress

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