What is Binge Eating Disorder?

Understanding Binge Eating Disorder

If you gorged yourself on chocolate during Easter, or ate so many mince pies at Christmas, that you had to buy the next size up in clothes afterwards you know what it feels like to overeat. It's perfectly normal to overeat from time to time — most people do.

Teens are notorious for being hungry a lot. That's because the body demands extra nutrients to support the major growth of muscle and bone that's happening. So if you go through phases where you feel like eating more sometimes, that's usually why and it's absolutely natural.

But binge/compulsive eating is different from normal appetite increases or overeating from time to time. People with a binge eating problem consume unusually large amounts of food on a regular basis. They often eat quickly, and they don't stop eating when they become full.

Somebody with this disorder feels out of control and powerless to stop eating while he or she is doing it. That's why it's also called compulsive overeating.

People with a compulsive eating problem may overeat when they feel stressed, upset, hurt, or angry. Many find it comforting and soothing to eat, but after a binge they are likely to feel guilty and sad about the out-of-control eating. As with all eating disorders, this type of eating is often a mixed-up way of dealing with or avoiding difficult emotions.