Binge Eating
Key points
- A person with a binge eating disorder consumes a large amount of food within two hours, and does it often.
- Binge eating disorder is probably the most common eating disorder.
- Scientists do know that about half of the people with the condition have had depression.
- Someone with a binge eating disorder has frequent episodes of binge eating, occurring at least two days a week for six months.
Weight Loss Basics
Diet and Exercise
• Losing Weight for the Long-Term
• How to Read Food Labels
• Controlling How Much You Eat
• Exercise and Weight Control
• Weight Cycling
• Weight Loss Diet
• Weight Loss Drugs
• Weight Loss Pills
Diets
• Finding a Program
• Choosing a Weight-Loss Program
• Low Fat Diets - Focusing on Fat
• Very Low-Calorie Diets
Causes of Weight Gain
• Emotional Eating
• Binge Eating
• Medical Reasons for Obesity
A person with a binge eating disorder consumes a large amount of food within two hours, and does it often. Having a binge eating disorder means being unable to control the amount of food consumed. You are unable to stop eating, even when you are full.
Most of us overeat from time to time, and many people often feel they've eaten more than they should have. But, does this mean we are "binge eaters"? Probably not: Eating a lot of food does not always mean that a person has an eating problem.
How Common Is Binge Eating?
Binge eating disorder is probably the most common eating disorder.
About 2% of all adults in the U.S. (as many as 4 million Americans) have binge eating disorder. About 10%-15% of people who are mildly obese and who try to lose weight on their own or through commercial weight-loss programs have this condition. The disorder is even more common in people who are severely obese.
Unlike other eating disorders -- such as bulimia nervosa or anorexia nervosa -- a substantial number of men suffer from binge eating disorder, but it is still more common in women. It is more common among the severely overweight, but can be found among people of any weight.
Written and revised by
Andrey Nailor, M.D.
Our doctors write and review articles for accuracy and keep them up to date.
health.am provides general information, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional about your own health.
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