Diagnostic Criteria for Bulimia Nervosa*

Recurrent episodes of binge eating at least twice a week for three months. The binge episodes are characterized by:
1)eating, in a discrete period of time (e.g., within any 2-hour period), an amount of food that is definitely larger than most people would eat during a similar period of time under similar circumstances
2)a sense of loss of control over eating during these episodes (e.g. a feeling that one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating)

Regular inappropriate compensatory behavior (at least twice weekly for three months) such as self-induced vomiting, laxative or diuretic abuse, enemas, fasting or excessive exercise

Undue influence of body weight or shape on self-evaluation

Anorexia nervosa is not present (i.e. weight is greater than 85% of expected body weight)

Subtype:

Purging Type: During the current episode of bulimia the person has regularly engaged in self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics or enemas.

Nonpurging Type: During the current episode of bulimia nervosa the person has used other inappropriate compensatory behaviors such as fasting or excessive exercise, but has not regularly engaged in self-induced vomiting, laxative, diuretic or enema misuse.
*These criteria are established by the American Psychiatric Association and published in the Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition.