Overview A binge-eating disorder is a significant eating condition in which you consume unusually large amounts of food on a regular basis and are unable to stop eating. On occasion, almost everyone overeats, such as taking seconds or thirds of a festive dinner. With a binge-eating disorder, this habit leads to consuming much more than one normal meal per day. Binge eating disorder (BED) is a serious medical condition that requires treatment. Binge eating is a common behavior that many people display from time to time. However, if you find yourself eating more than two meals per day with no apparent reason other than "I'm hungry" then this may be a sign that you have BED. People with BED experience episodes of eating far beyond their normal size every few days. During these episodes, they eat an excessive amount of food within a short period of time. Then they feel guilty about what they've eaten and start the cycle again later that day or the next. The reasons for bingeing are many and complex. Some people binge eat because of emotional issues such as stress or depression. Others may use eating as a way to cope with painful physical sensations such as nausea or pain. Still others may binge eat because they're unhappy with their shape or weight and need to lose weight quickly.