What is binge eating?

When people eat very large quantities of (often) high-calorie food, all in one go, it’s known as binge eating. The binges are often triggered by some serious upset, and may take place in secret. During these binges, someone may feel quite out of control. If the person is bulimic, they may follow up these episodes by making themselves sick or purging with laxatives. Others, inevitably, put on a lot of weight. Excessive binge eating may be life threatening.