Binge Eating Disorder is characterized as recurrent episodes of binge eating that, on average, occurs at least 2 days a week for 6 months. The binge eating is not associated with the regular use of inappropriate compensatory behaviors (e.g., purging, fasting, excessive exercise) and does not occur exclusively during the course of anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa.

Binge eating episodes are associated with three (or more) of the following:

1. Eating much more rapidly than normal.
2. Eating until feeling uncomfortably full.
3. Eating large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry.
4. Eating along because of being embarassed by how much one is eating.
5. Feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed, or very guilty after overeating.