Table 1.

Summary of the DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria for Binge-Eating Disorder^a

Criterion A. Recurrent episodes of binge eating. An episode of binge eating is characterized by both of the following:

1. Eating, in a discrete period of time (eg, within any 2-hour period), an amount of food that is definitely larger than what 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 (eg, a feeling that one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating)

Criterion B. The binge eating episodes are associated with 3 (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

Criterion C. Marked distress regarding binge eating is present

Criterion D. The binge eating occurs, on average, at least once a week for 3 months

Criterion E. The binge eating is not associated with the recurrent use of inappropriate compensatory behavior as in bulimia nervosa and does not occur exclusively during the course of bulimia nervosa or anorexia nervosa

^aReprinted with permission from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (Copyright ©2013). American Psychiatric Association. All Rights Reserved.

Abbreviation: DSM-5 = Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition.