This is the phrase that describes the eating disorder known as bulimia. One of the most famous bulimics was Princess Diana. Bulimia is often the response to stress and depression. Bulimics derive comfort from food. When such people feel low or angry for some reason, food is their "pick-me-up." They gorge themselves, preferably on high-calorie junk food. This gives them a "high" helping them to forget their troubles for a little while. Bulimics tend to be closet eaters. They gormandize secretly and then feel ashamed of their gluttony. They then induce themselves to vomit or take laxatives to purge themselves of the feeling of guilt. They have no control over their eating so they treat the effect rather than the cause by vomiting or taking laxatives. After a point bulimics can derive pleasure from the act of vomiting itself.

The pattern of binge and purge can result in ulcers, gastric and dental problems, acute disturbances in the chemical balances of the blood which could lead to heart attacks, sore throats, aching joints, and feelings of weakness, dizziness and apathy.