Rosh Psychiatry Board Practice Exam

What is a common behavioral sign of bulimia nervosa?

1. Excessive exercise

2. Eating in moderation

3. Cognitive dissonance

4. Stable body weight

The correct answer is: Excessive exercise

A common behavioral sign of bulimia nervosa is excessive exercise. Individuals with this eating disorder often engage in intense physical activity as a compensatory behavior in response to binge eating episodes. This excessive exercise is a way to try to counterbalance the calories consumed during these binges and can be a method to avoid weight gain, which is a significant concern for those suffering from bulimia. The behaviors associated with bulimia are typically characterized by cycles of binge eating followed by compensatory actions, which may include purging, fasting, or excessive exercising. Therefore, the presence of excessive exercise serves as an indicator of the disorder's psychological and physical aspects. It reflects the struggle with body image and weight control that individuals with bulimia experience. In contrast, eating in moderation is not characteristic of bulimia nervosa, as individuals with this disorder often have a lack of control during binges and do not typically regulate their food intake. Cognitive dissonance involves the mental discomfort experienced when holding two contradictory beliefs, which may occur in various contexts, but it is not a behavioral sign of bulimia nervosa specifically. Similarly, stable body weight is often not seen in bulimia, as many individuals fluctuate in weight due to bingeing and compensatory behaviors, making it an