Symptoms of Binge-Eating Disorder

While people with binge-eating disorder tend to have many of the same behavioral and emotional signs and symptoms, the exact definition of what binge eating disorder is remains unclear. In fact, even the definition of what a binge is remains uncertain. Some experts say that a binge is the consumption of excessive amounts of food over a short period of time, about two hours. Others say that a binge can last for an entire day and total more than 20,000 calories (a normal day’s diet is between 1,500 and 3,000 calories).

And it’s hard to define a condition when there are no obvious physical signs or symptoms. While many binge eaters are overweight or obese, not all of them are. And not all persons who are obese are binge eaters, although some of them are.

Most experts agree, though, that binge eaters share these behavioral and emotional signs and symptoms:

• Eating excessively large amounts of food
• Eating quickly during a binge
• Eating food even when not hungry
• Frequently eating alone out of embarrassment over the quantity of food eaten
• Hiding or hoarding food
• Hiding evidence of eating (wrappers, containers)
• Feeling out of control in regard to eating
• Feeling disgusted or guilty about binges
• Dieting or food restriction after binge episodes, usually without weight loss
• Depression or anxiety

People don’t have to have all of these symptoms to have a binge-eating problem, though.

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