Which disease is characterized by eating a large amount of food and then self-induced vomiting?

Appeared in: Uttarakhand CHO - 2021

Explanation

Bulimia nervosa involves recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting.
Diagnostic criteria require both binge eating and purging behaviors at least once per week for 3 months.
Individuals are typically of normal weight or overweight, not underweight.
Key differentiator: combination of binge eating and compensatory purging behaviors.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

Option B: Anorexia nervosa is characterized by severe restriction of food intake and intense fear of gaining weight, often leading to significantly low body weight. While some subtypes may involve purging, the hallmark is not binge eating followed by self-induced vomiting.
Option C: Binge eating disorder involves recurrent episodes of eating large amounts of food with a sense of loss of control, but it is not followed by regular compensatory behaviors like vomiting.
Option D: Obesity is a condition of excess body fat, often due to chronic overeating, but it is not classified as an eating disorder involving cycles of binge eating and self-induced vomiting.

Related Visual

Diagnostic criteria for bulimia nervosa, showing the sequence: binge eating episode → compensatory behavior vomiting/laxatives/exercise → normal or above-normal weight status.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Identification of eating disorder characterized by binge eating and self-induced vomiting helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Nurses must recognize signs of bulimia nervosa, such as dental erosion, calluses on knuckles (Russell's sign), and electrolyte imbalances, to provide timely intervention.
Early identification and referral for psychotherapy and nutritional counseling can prevent complications.
What if? If the patient binges but does not engage in compensatory behaviors, the diagnosis would shift to binge eating disorder, not bulimia nervosa.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the core behaviors described in the stem (binge eating and self-induced vomiting).
Recall the diagnostic features of major eating disorders.
Match the described pattern to the disorder that includes both binge eating and compensatory purging.
Eliminate options that lack either binge eating or purging behaviors.
Confirm the answer using the key differentiator: presence of both binge eating and self-induced vomiting.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Identification of eating disorder characterized by binge eating and self-induced vomiting
Stem keywords: eating large amount of food, self-induced vomiting, disease
Lead-in keywords: characterized by
Clinical cues: cycle of binge eating and purging

Question ID

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Reference Book

E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) p. 6929-6931

E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 1 p. 311-313

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