Symptoms & Causes of Binge Eating Disorder

What are the symptoms of binge eating disorder?

If you have binge eating disorder, you may

• eat a large amount of food in a short amount of time; for example, within 2 hours⁵
• feel you lack control over your eating; for example, you cannot stop eating or control what or how much you are eating

If you have binge eating disorder, you may feel depressed or guilty after overeating.

You also may

• eat more quickly than usual during binge episodes
• eat until you feel uncomfortably full
• eat large amounts of food even when you are not hungry
• eat alone because you are embarrassed about the amount of food you eat
• feel disgusted, depressed, or guilty after overeating⁵

If you think that you or someone close to you may have binge eating disorder, share your concerns with a health care professional, who can connect you to helpful sources of care.

What causes binge eating disorder?

Like other eating disorders, binge eating disorder results from a mix of factors related to your genes, your thoughts and feelings—particularly about your weight and shape—as well as cultural and social issues and your environment. Binge eating disorder also has been linked to depression and anxiety.

For some people, dieting in unhealthy ways—such as skipping meals, not eating enough food, or avoiding certain kinds of food—may contribute to binge eating.

References