Binge eating disorder is characterised by episodes where the person excessively overeats, often as an expression of underlying psychological distress. This is not a restrictive condition like anorexia or bulimia, and patients are likely to be overweight.

Binges may involve:

• A planned binge involving “binge foods”
• Eating very quickly
• Unrelated to whether they are hungry or not
• Becoming uncomfortably full
• Eating in a “dazed state”