Bulimia, byoo LIHM ee uh, is a disorder in which individuals experience frequent and uncontrollable periods of overeating called binges. Unlike other people who overeat, people with bulimia usually cannot stop a binge once it has started. They eat until they are too full to eat any more. After binging, most bulimics purge (eliminate) the food by making themselves vomit or by taking large doses of laxatives to help empty the bowels. Thus, most bulimics do not gain weight.