Studies show that binge eating has become America’s most common eating disorder. Around 2 percentage of the adult population in the United States have this disorder. Binge eaters are people who are compulsive overeaters. They often lack control over their eating habits and tend to go on eating even when their appetite has been satisfied.

Assumed cause

• For binge eaters, eating becomes a way or a means to distract themselves from the stress and problems of life. 
• This eating disorder is triggered by some emotional reaction to some stressful situation.
• These people show impulsive behavioral pattern.
• Research has shown that 50% of people with this disorder have had a history of depression. But, researchers are not quite sure if this could be the reason.

Symptoms

• Usually people binge in private and they tend to be very secretive about it.
• They have large amount of food in an uncontrolled manner even when they are not hungry.
• The person eats more quickly and rapidly.
• But the binge eaters feel distressed and guilty about their eating habits. They even feel ashamed to disclose their disorder. So they often eat alone during this episode.
• These people become obese.
• But, they do not try to compensate their binging by fasting exercising or any other means.
• They feel depressed because of their inability to control their food intake.
• The binge eaters are at a risk of various psychological disorders like depression, personality disorders, anxiety disorders etc.

Treatment

• Counseling can be very helpful for digging out the psychological roots of this disorder. It can help them change the way they respond to certain stressful situations in their life. 
• Seek professional medical assistance at the earliest.
• If you feel that you have this disorder, do not feel ashamed about it. Talk about this to your close friend or to any close acquaintance.
• Antidepressants can also be helpful in some people.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps people change their unhealthy eating habits.
• Weight loss programs can also be effective for overweight people.

Binge eating usually occurs for at least twice a week. It is a more common disorder then bulimia or anorexia; and is related to obesity. The symptoms could persist for about eight long years.