The most common eating disorder may not be what you think it is. More people have a problem with binge eating than any other eating disorder, including anorexia and bulimia, although it’s not as recognized. The disorder isn’t characterized by being able to eat a lot, having a healthy appetite or savoring a big meal once in awhile. It’s estimated that 2 percent of Americans suffer from the disorder; 10 to 15 percent of mildly obese people who frequently diet or try commercial weight loss are binge eaters, and that number increases among people who are severely obese.

But “normal-sized” people can be binge eaters, too. There’s no clear cause of binge eating, but depression and anxiety seem to be linked to it. Symptoms of binge eating include: eating large volumes of food quickly, eating until uncomfortably full, eating alone and eating when not hungry. Binge eaters may keep their behavior well-hidden from loved ones, much like bulimics. However, it differs from bulimia, because there is no purging action after the binge – bulimics either vomit, take laxatives or exercise strenuously after binges.Complications of binge eating mirror those of obesity – heart disease, diabetes, increased stroke risk and certain cancers. There are treatments for binge eating; cognitive behavioral therapy can help teach patients how to curb bingeing and modify their behavior to avoid binges. Psychotherapy may help sufferers explore the personal reasons why they binge. Drug therapy with antidepressants may also be beneficial.