Binge eating disorder is characterized by recurrent episodes of uncontrolled overeating, where a large amount of food is consumed in a short period of time, well beyond what most people would eat in similar circumstances. Unlike bulimia, these episodes are not followed by regular compensatory behaviors to "undo" the calories ingested.
Affected individuals often feel a loss of control during these episodes, accompanied by feelings of shame, disgust, guilt, and sometimes depressive symptoms. This disorder is frequently associated with being overweight or obese.
Specialists monitor these behaviors to make their diagnosis: :
For complete descriptions of the various eating disorders listed in the DSM-5.