What is binge-eating?

Binge eating is an eating disorder. People with binge-eating disorder have frequent episodes of unrestrained eating in a rapid and short period of time, but, unlike people with bulimia, do not follow this eating pattern with purging or excessive exercise.

Binge-eating disorder is a quite newly-recognised eating behaviour. It has been defined as an average figure of binge-eating episodes for at least two days a week during a six-month period.

People with this disorder tend to be older than those with anorexia nervosa and bulimia, and nearly half are male. Depression occurs in about 50% of obese binge eaters compared with 5% of obese people who do not have binge-eating disorders. Many people with this disorder are overweight and the accompanying feelings of distress, shame, self-disgust or guilt often create a cycle of binge eating.

Treatment strategies based on those used for bulimia are being used and evaluated for resolving binge-eating disorder.

Original material provided by Eating Disorders Association (NZ) Inc. and Pharmacy Today. Edited by everybody.