binge eating

noun

variants or less commonly binge-eating

ˈbinj-ˌē-tiŋ 

: an act or pattern of excessive or compulsive consumption of food

… if you deny yourself grandma's homemade pumpkin pie with whipped cream, it could haunt your dreams like Scrooge's ghosts. Sometimes, that feeling of deprivation leads to binge eating.

—John Boyle

specifically : uncontrolled compulsive eating especially as a symptom of bulimia or binge eating disorder

Their binge eating is not what most people call binging, as when they occasionally start on a bag of chips or on a gallon of ice cream and just keep going. Instead, their condition is in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. It involves binging multiple times a week.

—Gina Kolata

binge eat verb transitive + intransitive

binge ate; binge eaten; binge eating; binge eats

If you realize that certain situations cause the urge to binge eat, create a plan in advance to avoid those scenarios or identify a trusted family member or friend who can help you, [Chelsea] Kronengold suggests.

—Vanessa Caceres and Anna Medaris Miller

But try not to binge eat junk food and choose instead to enjoy your favorite unhealthy foods in moderation.

—Laura Hotinger

binge eater noun

plural binge eaters

Many binge eaters eat alone because it is really a solitary event, not a social one.

—Bobbie Randall

Examples of binge eating in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Symptoms of bulimia include: Recurrent episodes of binge eating Lack of control over eating behavior Vomiting Laxative misuse Fasting Excessive exercise Polyphagia alone is not diagnostic of a specific condition but rather a clue that there may be an underlying medical issue. —Sarah Jividen, Health, 5 Dec. 2024

In Eating Disorders, binge eating is not only one of the most common symptoms, but also one of the most stigmatised and underdiagnosed. —David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024

This group of individuals is less likely to engage in addictive habits such as smoking, vaping or binge eating. —Sammy Rubin, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024

Another concern is that too much restriction can often backfire into binge eating, said Natalie Mokari, a registered dietician in Charlotte, North Carolina. —Madeline Holcombe, CNN, 1 Sep. 2024

How gut bacteria may trigger binge eating or weight gain. —Shiv Sudhakar, NBC News, 2 July 2024

The Victoria’s Secret ambassador challenged the notion that binge eating is always a product of sadness. —Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 23 May 2024

No, Vyvanse is a prescription drug for ADHD and binge eating that may be addictive or cause other neurological or cardiovascular side effects. —Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2024

The misuse of laxatives, however, has been associated with eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa—often as a compensatory behavior for binge eating. —Lori Youmshajekian, Scientific American, 1 Nov. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

binge eating

noun

variants also binge-eating

: uncontrolled compulsive eating especially as a symptom of bulimia or binge eating disorder

binge eat verb

binge eater noun