People
with binge-eating disorder regularly eat excessive
amounts of food (binge). A binge is considered
eating a larger amount of food than most people
would eat under similar situations. A precise
definition of a binge remains up for debate. A binge
episode is typically considered to last about two
hours. But the duration also is under debate, and
some experts say binges can last an entire day.
People who binge may eat when
they're not really hungry and continue eating even long after they're
uncomfortably full. After a binge, they often try to diet or eat normal
meals. But restricting their eating can lead to more bingeing, perpetuating
the cycle.
Physically, people with
binge-eating disorder may show no signs or symptoms. They may be overweight
or obese, but not always. Most obese people don't have binge-eating
disorder, though.
On the other hand, people with
binge-eating disorder often have numerous behavioral and emotional signs and
symptoms. These include:
- Eating until the point of discomfort or pain
- Eating much more food during a binge episode than during a normal meal or snack
- Eating faster during binge episodes
- Feeling that their eating behavior is out of control
- Frequent dieting without weight loss
- Recurrent episodes of binge eating
- Frequently eating alone
- Hoarding food
- Hiding empty food containers
- Feeling depressed, disgusted or upset over the amount eaten
- Depression or anxiety
Binge-eating disorder is not
yet officially classified as a mental disorder, and not everyone thinks it
should be. Mental health experts hope that ongoing research will determine
if binge eating is a distinct medical condition, a nonspecific type of
eating disorder or simply a cluster of symptoms.
Binge eating is similar to
another eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, and some experts think it may be a
form of bulimia. But unlike people with bulimia, who purge after eating,
people with binge-eating disorder don't try to rid themselves of the extra
calories they consume by self-induced vomiting, overexercising or other
inappropriate methods. That's why most people with binge-eating disorder are
overweight. In fact, other theories say binge eating may be a type of
obesity disorder.
As in other eating disorders,
in binge-eating disorder people are often overly focused on — and unhappy
with — their weight, body shape and appearance. People with binge-eating
disorder often feel miserable about their lives and are at higher risk of
serious health complications than are those without the disorder.
