The short explanation
Eating large amounts in a short time, feeling unable to stop, eating when not hungry, and feeling disgusted or guilty afterwards are features of binge eating. When it happens often over months, doctors consider binge eating disorder. It is one of the most common eating difficulties, and it is not a lack of willpower. Binges are often linked to stress, low mood, boredom, loneliness or strict dieting during the day. Talking therapy, especially cognitive behavioural therapy, helps many people break the cycle. A doctor can also check physical health, such as blood sugar and blood pressure.
What depends on your situation
The parts of this that change from woman to woman. Uncertainty is stated, not hidden.
- Skipping meals during the day or following very strict diets can make night-time binges more likely, so regular meals are often part of the plan.
- Making yourself sick or using laxatives after binges is a different and more serious pattern that should be mentioned to a doctor.
- Low mood, anxiety and poor sleep often come together with binge eating.
What this answer cannot determine
The boundary of online education. These need a clinician who can see you.
- This answer cannot diagnose binge eating disorder or check your physical health. A doctor or psychologist who talks with you can assess that.
Questions for your clinician
Take these with you. You can add any of them to an appointment card.
- Does what I describe sound like binge eating disorder?
- Can you refer me for therapy for eating difficulties?
- Should my sugar or other tests be checked?
- Is low mood or stress part of this?
When to seek help
Clinician-approved guidance for this topic. When in doubt, being seen is never the wrong choice.
Emergency — call 112 now
- Call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department if you have thoughts of ending your life, have harmed yourself, or feel you cannot keep yourself safe right now.
Book an appointment soon
- See a doctor within a few days if you are making yourself sick or feel hopeless about your eating. You can also call Tele-MANAS on 14416, the free national mental-health helpline, which answers in many Indian languages.
Raise it at a routine appointment
- Book a routine appointment to talk about binge eating and your general health.
Sources
The evidence this explanation is built on.
- Mental health MedlinePlus (NIH)
- Depression MedlinePlus (NIH)
- Stress MedlinePlus (NIH)
Who wrote and reviewed this
Every AskHer answer names its author. A clinically reviewed answer also names the clinician who signed it off — if no clinician is named below, it has not been clinically reviewed.
- Author
- AskHer Editorial (AI-assisted draft) AskHer's editorial team — not an individual clinician Works in English, தமிழ், हिन्दी
- Clinical reviewer
- Nobody yet No clinician has signed this answer off, and no person on the editorial team has read it yet. That is what the “Written with AI assistance” label means. It is queued for an editor to read, and then for a clinician who works in this area. The sources it was drafted against are listed above.
- Review status
- Written with AI assistance — not yet reviewed by a person
- Last reviewed
- Not yet reviewed by a person
- Version
- 1
Correction history
Substantive changes are listed, not quietly edited away.
No corrections have been made since this answer was first published.
Did this answer your question?
Whatever you choose is filed against this version of the answer, never against you, and it is never shown as a count.
“Explain more simply” asks you which part was hard to follow, so the author knows what to rewrite. “My question is different” opens a private follow-up with this answer attached.
Saving, following up and reporting are all private. Nothing you do on this page is visible to other readers or to the doctor who wrote it, unless you ask a question.