Definition
An eating disorder involving cycles of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors such as purging, fasting, or excessive exercise.
Etymology
From Greek 'boulimia' meaning 'ravenous hunger,' from 'bous' (ox) + 'limos' (hunger). Literally 'hunger of an ox.'
Kelly Says
Bulimia is a painful cycle of bingeing and purging — it's driven by shame and a desperate need for control, and it harms both body and mind.
Translations
ARالعربية
البلعمة
al-bulʿama
BNবাংলা
বুলিমিয়া
bulimiya
CACatalà
bulímia
buˈlimi.ə
CSČeština
bulimie
buˈlimiɛ
DEDeutsch
Bulimie
buˈliːmiə
ELΕλληνικά
βουλιμία
vuliˈmia
ESEspañol
bulimia
buˈlimia
FRFrançais
boulimie
bʊlimi
HIहिन्दी
बुलिमिया
bulimiya
HUMagyar
bulímia
ˈbu.liː.mia
IDBahasa Indonesia
bulimia
buˈlimia
ITItaliano
bulimia
buˈliːmia
KMKM
ជំងឺកណ្តាស់ច្រើន
cŭn kɑndɑs crɛn
MSBahasa Melayu
bulimia
buˈlimia
MYမြန်မာ
ဘူလီးမီးယား
būlīmīyā
NLNederlands
boulimie
bʊˈlimi
PLPolski
bulimia
buˈlimja
PTPortuguês
bulimia
buˈlimiɐ
RORomână
bulimie
buˈlimi.e
RUРусский
булимия
bulimija
SVSvenska
bulimi
bʉˈliːmi
SWKiswahili
bulimia
buˈlimia
TAதமிழ்
பசியின்மை நோய்
paciyinːmai nōy
TEతెలుగు
బులీమియా
bulīmiya
THไทย
ภาวะกินมากเกินไป
pʰaːwaː kin maːk kɤːn pʰaj
UKУкраїнська
булімія
bulimija
VITiếng Việt
chứng ăn vô độ
cɨ̂ŋ ʔɛn voʔ ðô
ZUZU
iBulimia
i.bʊˈliːmi.a
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Disproportionately diagnosed in women/girls; medical language historically pathologized femininity and appetite; diagnosis rates reflect gendered diagnostic bias and media beauty standards targeting women.
Inclusive Usage
Use clinical terminology without gendered assumptions; recognize eating disorders affect all genders; avoid language implying moral failing tied to feminine vanity.
Inclusive Alternatives
["bulimia nervosa (clinical)","eating disorder"]