Athletic Training Practice Exam

What eating disorder is characterized by eating followed by self-induced vomiting?

1. Anorexia nervosa

2. Amenorrhea

3. Bulimia nervosa

4. B and C

The correct answer is: Bulimia nervosa

The eating disorder characterized by eating followed by self-induced vomiting is bulimia nervosa. This condition involves cycles of binge eating—consuming large quantities of food in a short period—followed by behaviors aimed at avoiding weight gain, such as vomiting, fasting, or excessive exercise. Individuals with bulimia often experience a sense of loss of control during the binge episodes and may feel guilty or ashamed afterward, which reinforces the cycle of binging and purging. Anorexia nervosa, on the other hand, primarily involves food restriction, an intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted body image, leading individuals to maintain a significantly low body weight. Amenorrhea refers specifically to the absence of menstruation, which can be a consequence of eating disorders but is not itself an eating disorder. Thus, the defining behavior of bulimia nervosa—self-induced vomiting after episodes of overeating—accurately identifies it as the correct answer.