They tend to be overweight, fluctuate in body weight, and are likely to become obese if they continue this behavior. Obesity can cause complications, some of which are severe. Binge eating disorder is similar to bulimia nervosa in that it is typically characterized by regular and repeated binge eating episodes. An episode of binge eating involves rapidly and uncontrollably eating a large amount of food in a single time period at one sitting until uncomfortably full. Unlike bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder does not include purging or other compensatory behaviors.
Affected individuals are usually obese and have had problems with fluctuations in their body weight.
For a majority of these individuals, binge eating begins during a diet. Treatment is similar to that for bulimia nervosa. It is being able to choose food you like and eating until you get enough of it, not just stopping because you think you should. Normal eating is being able to use moderate constraint on your food selection to get the right food, but not being so restrictive that you miss out on pleasurable food. Normal eating is giving yourself permission to eat sometimes because you are happy, sad, or bored, or just because it feels good.