A patient diagnosed with bulimia nervosa often engages in which of the following behaviors?

Individuals diagnosed with bulimia nervosa typically exhibit a pattern of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors. The most common of these compensatory actions include purging, which can involve self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas, as well as engaging in excessive exercise. This cycle of bingeing and purging is a hallmark behavior of bulimia nervosa, serving as a means for the individual to manage distress associated with body image and control over food consumption.

In contrast, the other choices describe behaviors not characteristic of bulimia nervosa. Avoiding food entirely aligns more closely with anorexia nervosa, where individuals restrict their food intake significantly. Overeating without remorse is more indicative of binge eating disorder, where there is no compensatory behavior following the overeating. Drug misuse, while it can occur with various mental health disorders, is not specific to bulimia nervosa and thus does not define the condition. Therefore, the behavior of purging or excessive exercise is a defining characteristic of bulimia nervosa.