“What's the difference between binge eating and compulsive eating?”

Lucy Newport • March 4, 2024

Reading time: 4 mins


I imagine you’re here because you find yourself eating large amounts of food in one sitting, even though you’re not hungry for it. Perhaps on one level, you don’t want to be eating that food, but on another, you just can’t seem to stop.

And maybe you’ve heard terms like ‘binge eating’ and ‘compulsive eating’ and you’re wondering, “which one do I do?”. 


Firstly, I want you to know that it’s okay that you’ve found yourself here - you’re not broken or bad for eating in this way. Plus, this self-awareness and acknowledgement you have of your eating patterns will serve you greatly in coming back to a more peaceful relationship with food.
Now, relax your tummy, take a long and full but easy breath and let’s look at the definitions and differences of compulsive eating and binge eating…


What is binge eating?

Simply put, binge eating is when someone eats a large amount of food, perhaps the food that they wouldn’t consciously choose, in a condensed period of time and past the point of comfortable fullness. With a binge tends to come a temporary sense of release or relief followed by feelings of guilt and shame. Often a person will try and “make up” for the binge by restricting their food afterwards, perhaps fasting the next morning, restarting a diet or deciding to “just be good”.

There are a few things that play into binge eating. It tends to be a symptom of restrictive diets with the goal of weight loss, the inability to be with uncomfortable emotions and / or this feeling of not being “enough”. 


Binge eating disorder is a recognised eating disorder, though a person can binge from time to time without their behaviour necessarily being considered a binge eating disorder. Each country has its own way of diagnosing a binge eating disorder, for example, the USA uses the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR).


What is compulsive eating?
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Compulsive eating, which is also often called compulsive overeating or food addiction again refers to this pattern of behaviour where someone will eat past the level of comfortably full in a way that feels out of their control. And just like with binge eating, compulsive eating is often followed by feelings of regret and shame. 


These compulsions to eat when not hungry or past full usually follow the same threads as binge eating; perhaps due to being on a diet or restricting food in other ways, the desire to avoid uncomfortable emotions, an underlying feeling of not being “enough” or a combination of all of these. 


Compulsive eating however, although it’s a form of disordered eating, isn’t “officially” recognised as an eating disorder, in the way that binge eating disorder, bulimia and anorexia are. 



So, what’s the difference? 


Reading the above you’re probably thinking “Well, is there any difference?!” and really, the key difference is that binge eating disorder is a recognised eating disorder, whereas compulsive eating isn’t. What’s important to note is that not everyone who experiences compulsive eating has a binge eating disorder, in the same way that not everyone who binge eats has an eating disorder. 


Through my work as a coach who helps women find freedom from binge eating, I’ve also had conversations with women who consider themselves to be compulsive eaters. When I ask them to tell me about their experiences with food, their descriptions tend to be so reflective of binge eating, that really, it’s just a different label they’re using.



What should I call my behaviour - binge eating or compulsive eating?


This is a tricky one because you likely have your own associations with the terms ‘binge eating’ and ‘compulsive eating’ - perhaps this article is also changing them and you’re experiencing some feelings about that!

You might be someone who sees it as more socially acceptable to say that you’re a compulsive eater because it’s not an eating disorder, per se. On the other hand, you might feel safer describing yourself as a binge eater for that exact reason; it’s a recognised eating disorder and therefore you feel more justified in seeking help, maybe even getting a diagnosis of binge eating disorder from a healthcare professional. 


My general philosophy on labels such as ‘binge eating’ and ‘compulsive eating’ is that they’re helpful initially to find the information to help you better understand your experiences, to seek the right kind of support and connect with others on a similar journey. However, beyond this, I believe that labels can keep us stuck within an identity, making it harder for us to move beyond it.

So, whichever label resonates with you the most 1) Hold it really lightly and 2) Know that there is so much support out there for you.