Which of the following best describes Bulimia Nervosa?

Bulimia Nervosa is characterized by episodes of binge eating, which involve consuming an excessive amount of food in a discrete period, typically accompanied by a sense of lack of control during the binge. This is then followed by compensatory behaviors intended to prevent weight gain, with purging (such as vomiting, excessive exercise, or misuse of laxatives) being the most common form of compensation. This cycle of binging and purging is a hallmark of Bulimia Nervosa, distinguishing it clearly from other eating disorders.

The other options describe conditions that do not align with the diagnostic criteria for Bulimia Nervosa. An example is recurrent episodes of binge eating without compensatory behaviors, which describes Binge Eating Disorder, a separate diagnosis. Involuntary passing of urine reflects issues associated with enuresis or other medical conditions, while difficulty in initiating or maintaining sleep pertains to sleep disorders, none of which fall under the category of Bulimia Nervosa. Thus, the accurate understanding of Bulimia Nervosa fundamentally relies on its defining features: binge eating followed by purging behaviors.