Final answer:
Madeline is likely suffering from bulimia nervosa, a psychological eating disorder where individuals engage in binge eating and then purging to avoid weight gain. Despite appearing to have a normal weight, people with bulimia can suffer from severe health issues. Professional treatment is essential for recovery.
Step-by-step explanation:
Madeline comes home from school each day and eats a half gallon of ice cream and a dozen donuts and purges the food through vomiting. Despite her normal weight, Madeline is likely suffering from bulimia nervosa, an eating disorder characterized by episodes of binge eating followed by attempts to compensate for the excessive amount of food that was consumed through purging, such as vomiting. This cycle of behaviors in bulimia nervosa frequently occurs in secrecy and can lead to serious health problems, including electrolyte imbalances and irregular heartbeat, even when the person has a normal weight.
Individuals with bulimia nervosa may use various methods to avoid weight gain from their binges, such as vomiting, using laxatives, exercising excessively, or taking diuretics. The purging behavior after binge eating can be extremely harmful to physical and emotional health. Bulimia nervosa is a serious mental health condition that requires professional treatment including counseling and sometimes medication.