Studies such as the one just described have led to the classification of binges as being either objective or subjective. An objective binge is an eating episode that involves an unusually large amount of food (given the circumstances) and a feeling of loss of control. In a subjective binge, you perceive the amount of food you are eating to be unusually large but it actually is not, given the circumstances. You do, however, feel out of control. Most people with binge-eating disorder report both types of binges each week, with about half being objective and half subjective. Although subjective binges do not result in as much weight gain as objective ones, they do cause similar guilt and emotional distress. |
