There are a variety of symptoms, but the bottom line is feeling overall out of control in your relationship to food. A person may try to change his/her eating behavior, but will ultimately return to old patterns. Some people may have periods of discreet bingeing (i.e. consuming large quantities of food in a short time), they may overeat at mealtimes, or they may “graze,” never really finishing a meal. Their weight may go up over time, remain stable, or they may even have periods of weight loss, usually followed by regaining the weight over time. Ultimately, the person feels unable to change their eating patterns permanently. A professional such as a therapist can tell you if you have an eating disorder. Eating disorders are serious and painful struggles.