Binge Eating/Compulsive Overeating

"eating to excess"

Binge Eating Disorder is defined as consuming large quantities of food in a short period of time with the feeling of lack of control over eating. Often, binge eating is confused with compulsive overeating which involves consuming larger than normal quantities during everyday meals. The difference between the two disorders is the short period of time and the sense of lack of control over food consumption experienced during binge eating. Binge eaters feel they are unable to stop eating, similar to a bulimic without the purging activity.

Binges often occur when one begins to think about the food they are depriving themselves of, forming a strong desire to eat. Soon they feel unable to stop, therefore binge eating. Feelings of disgust, guilt and depression follow the binge. Binges, typically done in secret as the individual is ashamed of their "loss of control" over food, may be a result of overwhelming emotions, such as depression or loneliness. The feelings that follow episodes of binge eating lead to further depression, which in turn leads to more binge eating. It is a cycle that needs to be broken.
Compulsive overeating is defined as a regular overindulgence of food. It is most commonly associated with binge eating disorder.

Those suffering from compulsive overeating often eat in response to the same issues that bulimics and binge eaters experience - stress, depression, anxiety, loneliness. Instead of binge eating great amounts of food during short time periods, they compulsively consume larger portions on a regular basis. This becomes a habit, resulting in weight gain, therefore causing further depression and more binge eating.