Posted by Dr. Beth Steinhauer on March 18, 2005, at 10:20:49
In reply to Steinhauer: overeating vs bingeing, posted by montella on March 16, 2005, at 11:45:17
Dear Montella,
Everyone overeats at times, whether because they're at a party with wonderful food, or vacationing in Paris, or for any other festive occasion. Overeating becomes problematic when it's done for emotional reasons or feels compulsive or out of control. While some people generally overeat at meals or snacks, i.e. consuming more than they need for nutritional purposes, binges are typically thought of as discrete episodes in which the eater feels driven and out of control. It is not uncommon for people who binge to consume 3,000 calories or more in a single episode. This may or may not be followed by attempts to purge through vomiting or other means. In other words, while overeating and bingeing can both be problematic, it is the intensity, severity and time-limited quality of a typical binge that distinguishes it from overeating.Hope this is helpful. ES
poster:Dr. Beth Steinhauer
thread:469675
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/eating/20050314/msgs/472436.html