What is Binge Eating Disorder and Compulsive Overeating?
If you binge eat, you may eat large amounts of food in a short period of time. Sufferers may focus on eating one particular food or select food randomly. The pattern of eating in a binge is very different from sitting down and having a meal. There may be a feeling of lack of control during these binges, but unlike someone with bulimia, the binge is not followed by a need to get rid of the food. Bingers may eat much more quickly, eat until they are uncomfortably full, eat large amounts of food when not hungry or eat alone. The reasons for binge eating are very similar to those for bulimia. Compulsive overeating involves ‘picking’ at food all day. There may be different reasons for this, but as with other eating disorders, food and eating is used as a way of dealing with difficult feelings. If you compulsively overeat or binge eat, you may feel depressed or inadequate because you cannot control your eating, which can lead to further eating and weight gain. Read more about the symptoms of
