Is there a difference between binge eating and over eating?

Lobster1987

Welp,

Do you want an answer from a bonafide diagnosed binge eater?

Over eating, is eating too much, possibly because it's really good, its a special occasion, whatever...it doesn't happen very often.

Binge eating, is on a mental level. It is over eating, but its not that it tastes good, its a NEED to eat. ITs because the brain hasn't gotten enough, its like your emotions, your heart, your mind isn't finished eating yet. You obsess about the particular food item until its completely gone or until you are so full you throw up. Its a completely mental thing.

That's my perspective and I'm in treatment for binge eating disorder.

BetterCrazyThanLazy

As a recovering binge eater I would tell you that overeating and binge eating are two different things (in my personal opinion).

Binge eating is when you are cleaning your cupboards and fridge to the point where you can't even breathe and then you are feeling grave regrets. You don't discriminate between foods going down your throat, you just eat... It is uncontrollable short period of time deal.

Overeating is eating a bit more than you normally do - and in your case you had company and it was a "social eating".

BinaryPulsar

I looked at your diary. No, that is not a binge. That is a normal night of enjoying food on an occasion with friends (especially considering how young and fit you already are). I think sometimes people on mfp have their cals set so low, that they perceive normal eating as a binge. I've seen people get upset that they binged and the amount they ate is a normal daily amount of food for me (and I have never binged, overeaten, or been even close to overweight). Anyone could easily eat that amount just by going to a restaurant and not knowing the calories in the meal.

I would never consider less than 3000 calories to be a binge!

tkcasta

Diagnostic criteria for BINGE EATING DISORDER (sometimes referred to as "compulsive overeating")

A. Recurrent episodes of binge eating. An episode of binge eating is characterized by both of the following:
(1) eating, in a discrete period of time (e.g., within any 2-hour period), an amount of food that is definitely
larger than most people would eat in a similar period of time under similar circumstances.
(2) a sense of lack of control over eating during the episode (i.e., feeling that one cannot stop eating or
control what or how much one is eating)

B. The 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 alone because of being embarrassed by how much one is eating
(5) feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed, or very guilty after overeating

C. Marked distress regarding binge eating is present.

D. The binge eating occurs, on average, at least 2 days a week for 6 months.

E. 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.

divacat80

I wouldn't call that a "binge". I'm a binge eater, and when I binge, I don't actually WANT to eat, I just can't stop. I will literally have a stomach ache from the amount of food I've eaten....and keep going back for more! To the point where it physically hurts so much that I can almost throw up ( I do not throw up....just feel like I could). That is what I call a "binge".

This is what i call a binge-eating episode.

If you just go over your calories and eating until you're full then it's just over-eating. But you stop there, you're full and can't take (and won't) any more food. If you can't stop, specially if you eat anything in sight, "just because" then that's binge-eating.

DanielleMN

It is a lot to think about. I used to have bing eating disorder (before my gastric bypass surgery) but now I have "Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified." In my case it means that I tend to overeat on sweets whenever they are around, often eating them in place of regular, balanced meals. And if I don't have sweets around I sometimes feel nervous and panicky, like I need a "fix." I have a tendency to be malnourished because I eat sweets instead of protein, vegetables, fruits, etc. My weight tends to stay the same or gradually increase over time, unless I am actively working to eat healthier and lose weight, like I am now.

Anyway I guess I just wanted to point out that there are many different types of eating disorders and that they don't all fit into nice, neat categories. A day of overeating now and then is most likely NOT an eating disorder.

funkycamper

Looking at your diary, I would say that was a binge...whether it's an ongoing thing I don't know but maybe you were feeling stressed or something?

You know it when you've binged. The last time I had a binge with food, I ended up vomiting. (Same as the last time I had a binge with alcohol) I looked at her diary. Twenty-seven potato chips and some peanut butter and pretzels is called eating too much at a party, NOT a binge.

I didn't look at the diary but did she really count the potato chips? Wow...that alone tells me that it was not a binge. Nobody who is counting the chips is binging.

I hate words like binge, cheat day, and such being thrown around frivolously. We use language to communicate, words have meaning, and we should try to use them accurately in order to communicate effectively. What the OP did was not a binge. Others here have already described what a binge is.

Personally, if I had a bunch of MFP friends who were trying to guilt me because I had a planned splurge (that's what I call them), I would de-friend them.

There is nothing wrong with splurging, planned ahead of time or not. In fact, there is a lot of evidence indicating that flexible dieting in which the person goes off their weight loss eating plan once in awhile are more successful in losing and in keeping it off once the weight is lost. One reason why is that they have learned that food is not an enemy. I had a big splurge on Friday night, partially planned for, partially not (I ate a bit more than intended). So what? I ate less during the day on Friday to have extra calories to cover my splurge. But, since I ate a bit more than planned, I cut my calories a bit on Saturday and did an extra workout this morning. It's not what you do on a day-to-day basis, it's what you do over the course of time.

OP, you didn't binge. And I admire your self-control in counting those chips.:drinker:

RobynMWilson

My opinion: you did nothing wrong. Anyone attempting to shame you with back handed trite encouragement about binging is incorrect. Criticism veiled as encouragement.... what crap.


So, if I go to AUCE night for Snow Crab, and have well over my calorie limit as set by MFP, I'm a binge-er? Or if I indulge in high calorie yummy cocktails along with other normal snacks, I'm a binge-er? come on..... no. no. no.

^^^ I agree! I'm going to Carrabba's this coming Thurs for my nephews bday so I know i'll go over on calories. Probably for the first time since the last time I went out to eat, which was last month sometimes. Hardly binge eating!!

NocturnalGirl

There is a big difference between the two that people seem to ignore.

Binge eating usually involves eating large amounts of food in a short period of time, with a sense of being out of control. It often happens at times of stress, anger, boredom or sadness and is used as a coping strategy in most cases.

On the other hand, I would think overeating is an overconsumption of food - whether deliberate or unintentional - with little or no feelings attached to it.

Also, in my opinion, overeating is more factual in regards to the number eaten. Whereas, for a binge, the amount eaten is what *feels* to be a lot of food.

I wouldn't classify your day as binge eating, you seem cool about it which is great

quirkytizzy

I'm familiar with the world of eating disorders through loved ones, but never myself personally. I asked this same question on my friend's list recently and the answers given here were the answers I received there. Several of my friends are in ED recovery and helped me understand. This thread also helps me understand. It made me a lot more careful about how I used the word "binge". As another poster put it, I don't want to slap anyone in the face with how serious and heart-rending the word "binge" really is.

taylorwaylor

They probably just think that you binged because you went so over on your calories.... In my opinion, and from experience, binging isnt really a thing throughout the whole day or something...It is usually from and hour to 2 hours.. Its when your out of control, sooo full and you still need to shove food in your face. Its when you eat until its painful even to just sit there!! ITS FREAKING TERRIBLE!!! And i think over eating is just when you ignore when your body is just getting full, so you continue to eat until you can really feel the fullness. I dont think that when someone goes over in calories means that they "binged" or "over-ate"..It just means that what they ate was high in calories!

love4fitnesslove4food_wechange

I think they are COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.People blow things out of proportion. If you didn't view it as a binge then I'd guess it wasn't.

love4fitnesslove4food_wechange

Looking at your diary, I would say that was a binge...whether it's an ongoing thing I don't know but maybe you were feeling stressed or something?

Seriously?

JadeLaurenBoxall

Whether it was a binge or not, you shouldn't stress over it..but if you want to stop binging, I'd recommend eating more on a daily basis, and I don't mean health foods, so your not depriving your body of what it needs, then you won't binge, but if you do, it's normal, everyone does it!