Which eating disorder involves significant binge-eating episodes without compensatory behaviors like purging or fasting?

• A. Anorexia Nervosa
• B. Binge Eating Disorder
• C. Bulimia Nervosa
• D. Rumination Disorder

Answer: (B)

This item tests how to distinguish eating disorders by what happens after a binge. A binge eating episode involves eating a large amount in a short time with a sense of loss of control and distress. In the disorder described, these episodes happen repeatedly and there are no regular compensatory actions to offset calories—no purging, fasting, or excessive exercise. That lack of compensatory behavior after binges is what sets it apart from other conditions.

Anorexia nervosa centers on markedly low body weight from restrictive intake, and sometimes bingeing occurs but the defining feature is underweight. Bulimia nervosa also features bingeing, but with compensatory behaviors afterward, such as purging or other methods to prevent weight gain. Rumination disorder involves repeated regurgitation of food rather than large binge episodes with or without compensatory actions.

So the pattern of significant binge-eating episodes without compensatory behaviors aligns with the described condition.