Table 1.

DSM-5 criteria for binge eating disorder (BED)

A Recurrent episodes of BE. An episode of BE is characterized by both of the following:

1) eating, in a discrete period of time (for example, 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 (for example, a feeling that one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating).

B The BE 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 feeling embarrassed by how much one is eating;

5) feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed, or very guilty afterward.

C Marked distress regarding BE is present.

D The BE occurs, on average, at least once a week for 3 months.

E The BE is not associated with the recurrent use of inappropriate compensatory behavior (for example, purging) and does not occur exclusively during the course of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder.

Mild: 1–3 BE episodes per week

Moderate: 4–7 BE episodes per week

Severe: 8–13 BE episodes per week

Extreme: 14 or more BE episodes per week

Abbreviations: DSM-5, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition; BE, binge eating.