What is Purging Disorder?

Purging disorder is characterized by purging activities such as vomiting, excessive exercise, laxatives, or fasting to lose weight or obtain a specific body shape. It is different from bulimia in that no binge eating occurs before the purge and from anorexia in that the person isn’t underweight.

Definition

Healthline

Purging disorder is an eating disorder that involves “purging” behavior to induce weight loss or manipulate body shape. Purging can mean a number of things, including:

• self-induced vomiting
• misuse of laxatives or medications
• excessive exercise
• fasting

While it’s not as well-known as other eating disorders, purging disorder is a recognized eating disorder. It’s categorized as an “Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder.”

VeryWell Mind

Purging disorder is an eating disorder that is diagnosed when a person purges to influence body shape or weight but does not binge. It can be thought of as bulimia nervosa without bingeing.

Medicine Net

People with purging disorder make themselves throw up often. They might also take medicine to force themselves to…