Final answer:
The eating disorder in which an individual recurrently engages in binge eating and then purges is bulimia nervosa. It is a serious mental health condition that can lead to severe physical health problems and requires professional treatment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The eating disorder characterized by episodes of binge eating followed by attempts to compensate for the excessive amount of food that was consumed is called bulimia nervosa. People with bulimia nervosa typically engage in a binge-and-purge eating pattern; they consume large quantities of food in a short period (binge), then try to get rid of the calories by vomiting, using laxatives, taking diuretics, exercising excessively, or other methods (purge). This behavior is due to an extreme fear of gaining weight and can hence lead to serious health problems, including electrolyte imbalances and irregular heartbeat.
Bulimia nervosa differs from anorexia nervosa, another major eating disorder, where individuals consume very little food and often exhibit excessive weight loss. However, both of these disorders can have life-threatening consequences and typically require professional treatment, which may include counseling and medication.