diagnostic criteria for bulimia nervosa

Criteria: 1) Recurrent episodes of binge eating a) eating within a 2 hour period an amount of food that is larger than most people would eat b) a sense of lack of control over eating during the episodes 2) Recurrent inappropriate compensatory behavior to prevent weight gain a) self-induced vomiting b) abuse of laxatives, diuretics or enemas c) abuse of other medications d) fasting e) excessive exercise 3) Behaviors occur at least twice a week for at least 3 months 4) Self-evaluation is unduly influenced by body shape & weight 5) Disturbance does NOT occur exclusively during episodes of anorexia nervosa Purging type: - regular self-induced vomiting or abuse of laxatives, diuretics or enemas Non-purging type: - fasting or excessive exercise, but NOT regular self-induced vomiting or abuse of laxatives, diuretics or enemas

References

Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 14th ed. Fauci et al (eds), McGraw-Hill Inc. NY, 1998, pg 463