Binge Eating Disorder is characterized primarily by a cycle of binge eating without the regular use of compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, diuretics or enemas.
Primary Symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder:
Recurrent episodes of binge eating characterized by the following:
Eating, in a discrete period of time (within any 2-hour period), an amount of food that is definitely larger than what most people would eat in a similar period of time under similar circumstances
A sense of lack of control over eating during the episode
The binge-eating episodes are associated with 3 or more of the following:
Eating much more rapidly than normal.
Eating until feeling uncomfortably full.
Eating large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry.
Eating alone because of feeling embarrassed by how much one is eating.
Feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed, or very guilty afterward.
Marked distress regarding binge eating is present
The binge eating occurs, on average, at least once a week for 3 months
The binge eating is not associated with the recurrent use of inappropriate compensatory behaviors as in Bulimia Nervosa and does not occur exclusively during the course of Bulimia Nervosa or Anorexia Nervosa
Frequent episodes of eating large quantities of food in short periods of time. Feeling out of control over eating behavior. There are also several behavioral indicators of BED such as eating when not hungry, eating in secret and hording behaviors.