Binge eating means eating a large amount of food (more than one would normally eat) within a certain amount of time.

Purging means getting rid of the food that has been eaten, by enforcing oneself to vomit and/or by the misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas.

The majority of bulimic sufferers binge eat and purge, in order of coping with their emotional difficulties,as well as losing/maintaining their body weight.

A large percentage of anorexic patients also binge eat and purge, in order to keep their body weight low.