Bulimia Glossary of Terms

1. Eating Disorders Slideshow Pictures

Abdominal: Relating to the abdomen, the belly, that part of the body that contains all of ...

Abdominal pain: Pain in the belly. Abdominal pain can be acute or chronic. It may reflect ...

Abnormal: Outside the expected norm, or uncharacteristic of a particular patient.

Anorexia: An eating disorder characterized by markedly reduced appetite or total aversion...

Anorexia nervosa: See Anorexia.

Anxiety: A feeling of apprehension and fear, characterized by physical symptoms such as pa...

Binge eating disorder: An eating disorder characterized by periods of extreme overeating, ...

Blood pressure: The blood pressure is the pressure of the blood within the arteries. It is...

Blood sugar: Blood glucose. See also: High blood sugar; Low blood sugar.

Brain: The portion of the central nervous system that is located within the skull. It func...

Bulimia: Also called bulimia nervosa. An eating disorder characterized by episodes of secr...

Bulimia nervosa: See Bulimia.

C-section: Short for Cesarean section.

Cavities: Holes or structural damage in the two outer layers of a tooth called the enamel...

Chronic: In medicine, lasting a long time. A chronic condition is one that lasts 3 months ...

Clinical depression: Depressed mood that meets the DSM-IV criteria for a depressive disord...

Complication: In medicine, an unanticipated problem that arises following, and is a result...

Dehydration: Excessive loss of body water. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract that ca...

Depression: An illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts and that affects the way...

Diagnosis: 1 The nature of a disease; the identification of an illness. 2 A ...

Diarrhea: A common condition that involves unusually frequent and liquid bowel movements. ...

Diuretic: Something that promotes the formation of urine by the kidney. All diuretics caus...

Dry skin: Abnormally dry skin. Can be caused by a dry climate, winter weather, deficiency...

DSM-IV: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, the officia...

Electrolyte: A substance that dissociates into ions in solution and acquires the capacity ...

Esophagus: The tube that connects the pharynx (throat) with the stomach. The esophagus lie...

Family therapy: A type of psychotherapy designed to identify family patterns that contribu...

Fasting: : going without food or drink. Patients may be advised to fast for a certain peri...

Fatigue: A condition characterized by a lessened capacity for work and reduced efficiency ...

Genetics: The scientific study of heredity. Genetics pertains to humans and all other orga...

Group therapy: 1) A type of psychiatric care in which several patients meet with one or m...

Heart: The muscle that pumps blood received from veins into arteries throughout the body. ...

Indicate: In medicine, to make a treatment or procedure advisable because of a particular ...

Ipecac: A naturally occurring substance with multiple properties including the ability to ...

Laboratory: A place for doing tests and research procedures, and for preparing chemicals a...

Laxative: Something that promotes emptying of the bowels. Laxatives are used to combat con...

Low blood sugar: A low blood level of the sugar glucose. Also called hypoglycemia.

Malnutrition: A term used to refer to any condition in which the body does not receive eno...

Menstrual: Pertaining to menstruation (the menses), as in last menstrual period, menstrua...

Nutrition: 1) The science or practice of taking in and utilizing foods. 2) A nourishing ...

Obesity: The state of being well above one's normal weight.

OCD: 1. Obsessive-compulsive disorder; 2. Osteochondritis dissecans.

Pain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pa...

Personality disorder: A disorder characterized by the chronic use of mechanisms of coping ...

Pharmacy: A location where prescription medications are sold. A pharmacy is constantly sup...

Postpartum: The period just after delivery, as with postpartum depression. Postpartum refe...

Postpartum depression: A form of severe depression after delivery that interferes with dai...

Potassium: The major positive ion (cation) found inside cells. The chemical notation for p...

Pregnancy: The state of carrying a developing embryo or fetus within the female body. Thi...

Prognosis: The forecast of the probable outcome or course of a disease; the patient's chan...

Psychiatric: Pertaining to or within the purview of psychiatry, the medical specialty conc...

Psychotherapy: The treatment of a behavior disorders, mental illness, or any other conditi...

Referral: The recommendation of a medical or paramedical professional. If you get a refer...

Rehydrate: To restore lost water to the body tissues and fluids. Prompt rehydration is imp...

Relapse: The return of signs and symptoms of a disease after a remission.

Sensation: In medicine and physiology, sensation refers to the registration of an incoming...

Serotonin: A neurotransmitter that is involved in the transmission of nerve impulses. Sero...

Stomach: The digestive organ that is located in the upper abdomen, under the ribs. The upp...

Stress: In a medical or biological context stress is a physical, mental, or emotional fact...

Substance: 1. Material with particular features.
2. The material that...

Substance abuse: The excessive use of a substance, especially alcohol or a drug. (There is...

Tear: A drop of the salty secretion of the lacrimal glands which serves to moisten the con...

Therapy: The treatment of disease. Therapy is synonymous with treatment.

Throat: The throat is the anterior (front) portion of the neck beginning at the back of th...

Tooth: One of the structures within the mouth that allow for biting and chewing. Teeth hav...

Vital: Necessary to maintain life. For example, breathing is a vital function.

Vomit: Matter from the stomach that has come up into and may be ejected beyond the mouth, ...

Weight loss: Weight loss is a decrease in body weight resulting from either voluntary (die...