What is "binge-purge syndrome"

Bulimia \Bu*lim"i*a\ (b[u^]*l[i^]m"[i^]*[.a]), Bulimy \Bu"li*my\, n. [NL. bulimia, fr. Gr. boylimi`a, lit., ox-hunger; boy^s ox + limo`s hunger: cf. F. boulimie.]

1. (Med.) A disease in which there is a perpetual and insatiable appetite for food; a diseased and voracious appetite.

2. a disordered eating habit characterized by occasional episodes of excessive eating, followed by self-induced vomiting or abuse of laxatives, to avoid gaining weight; it is often accompanied by feelings of guilt; -- called also bulimia nervosa and binge-purge syndrome. It is observed mainly in young women of normal weight.

n. a disorder of eating in which the person alternates between strong craving for food and aversion to food; characterized by excessive eating followed by periods of fasting or self-induced vomiting [syn: bulimarexia, binge-vomit syndrome, bulima nervosa]