In a binge-eating episode, a person consumes, in a discrete period of time, an amount of food that is significantly larger than most people would eat in a similar period under similar circumstances. There is also a sense of lack of control over what is eaten during the episode. Binge-eating episodes are associated with intense emotional distress and occur at least once a week for three months. They are characterized by:

• Eating much faster than normal.
• Eat until you feel uncomfortably full.
• Eating large amounts of food when you are not hungry.
• Eating only in secret, due to the shame felt about the amount consumed.
• Feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed, or very ashamed.