Binge eating disorder

Binge eating is an eating disorder. People who have it eat large amounts of food in a short time. They binge eat regularly for several months. They may feel out of control and eat until they are painfully full.

Some people who binge have a normal weight. But over time, many gain weight and have problems from being obese. People who have binge eating disorder also often have depression, anxiety, or other emotional problems.

Most people who have binge eating disorder need treatment to get better.

Binge eating disorder isn't the same thing as bulimia. Unlike bulimia, if you have binge eating disorder, you don't vomit or try other ways to get rid of calories. But you might try to limit how much food you eat between eating binges. Binge eating disorder is sometimes called compulsive overeating.

From time to time, most of us feel like we have eaten more than we should. But eating too much every now and then doesn't mean that you have binge eating disorder. If you have binge eating disorder, you may:

• Eat way too much in a short period of time (less than 2 hours) on a regular basis.
• Eat when you're not hungry.
• Feel like you can't stop eating.
• Eat faster than normal when you binge eat.
• Eat so much that you feel painfully full.
• Feel unhappy, upset, guilty, or depressed after you binge eat.
• Eat alone because you're embarrassed about how much you eat.

Even if you don't have all these symptoms, having a few can be a sign of a problem that needs treatment. It's important to get help if you or someone you know has any of these symptoms.

A doctor can find out if you have binge eating disorder by asking about eating habits and past health. Your doctor may also ask about your mental health and how you feel about food and your body. If you're overweight, your doctor may do a physical exam to rule out problems that it can cause.

Treatment for binge eating disorder includes counseling and medicine. You may need treatment for a long time to fully recover.

The goals of treatment are to help you:

• Reduce your number of eating binges.
• Develop healthy eating and exercise habits.
• Deal with shame or guilt about your eating disorder.
• Develop a healthy view of yourself and your body.

You also may need treatment for other problems that often occur with binge eating disorder. These can include bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorders, obesity, or problems caused by being overweight.

It will take some time and patience to quit binge eating and lose excess weight. Some people find that they still have trouble losing excess weight, even after they stop binge eating. Talk to your doctor about what results are realistic to expect from treatment.