Binge Eating Disorders

*adapted from Michel & Willard, 2003

Binge eating disorder was described as compulsive overeating.  A disorder commonly known in the past and  as compulsive overeating is now being recognized by the psychiatric community as a distinct type of eating disorder.  It consists of binge eating, as seen in bulimia, but without the regular use of compensatory behaviors used in an attempt to get rid of the calories consumed during the binge.

 Warning Signs of Binge Eating Disorder

  • Overeating associated with stress, depression, and/or anxiety
  • Guilt, shame, disgust, and/or depression around eating
  • Secretive eating due to embarrassment
  • Disappearance of large quantities of food
  • Rapid weight gain
  • Eating until uncomfortably full
  • Rapid eating

 Associated Emotional Features of Binge Eating Disorder

  • Depression
  • Guilt
  • Shame
  • Disgust
  • Embarrassment

 *Michel, D.M. & Willard, S.G. (2003). When Dieting Becomes Dangerous: A Guide to Understanding and Treating Anorexia and Bulimia. New Haven: Yale University Press.