Eating, excessive indulgence

Alternative names:

binge eating; recurrent binge eating

Definition:

A psychological eating disorder characterized by eating more than needed to satisfy the hunger. It is a feature of bulimia, a disorder that also includes abnormal perception of body image, constant craving for food, and binge eating followed by self-induced vomiting or laxative use.

Considerations:

Bulimia is most common among adolescents or young adults, usually female. Its prevalence (frequency) has been estimated to be as high as 19% in college-age women.

People with bulimia typically consume large quantities of easily ingested high-calorie foods, usually in secrecy. Binge eating is usually followed by self-induced vomiting and accompanied by feelings of guilt or depression.

Complications resulting from prolonged bulimia include gastric dilatation, pancreatitis, dental decay, pharyngitis, esophagitis, pulmonary (lung) aspiration, and electrolyte abnormalities. Constipation and hemorrhoids are also common in bulimics.

Although death from bulimia is rare, the long-term outcome in severe bulimia is usually worse than the outcome in anorexia nervosa, which suggests that the underlying psychiatric disorder may be more severe.

Common causes:

• bulimia (While this disorder often begins during or after strict dieting and may be caused by stress related to insufficient food intake, its cause remains unknown.)

Note: There are other causes of indulgent eating. The list of all possible causes can be extensive and include unlikely diseases and medications. Furthermore, the list will vary based on age and gender of the individual as well as on the specific characteristics of the symptom such as time course and associated complaints. Use the Symptom Analysis option to explore the possible explanations for this symptom occurring alone or in combination with other problems.