What behavior may indicate that an individual is experiencing binge eating and purging?

Sudden weight loss can be a clear indicator that an individual is experiencing binge eating and purging behaviors, often associated with disorders such as bulimia nervosa. This drastic change in weight may result from cycles of overeating (bingeing) followed by compensatory behaviors such as vomiting, excessive exercise, or misuse of laxatives, which can lead to acute weight changes.

People who engage in these behaviors may not always maintain a stable weight; instead, they might lose weight suddenly due to the purging behavior that mimics the caloric intake fluctuations. This contrasts with other options where consistent weight gain or increased physical activity might not be directly associated with the pathology of bingeing and purging, highlighting that sudden weight loss is particularly reflective of these eating disorder symptoms. Heightened mood swings are common in various mental health conditions but are not specifically indicative of binge eating and purging behaviors.