What characterizes binge-eating disorder for diagnosis?

• A. Recurrent episodes of binge eating without regular compensatory behaviors, at least once a week for 3 months, with distress.
• B. Purging behaviors weekly.
• C. Weight gain due to overeating every day.
• D. Fear of dieting.

Answer: (A)

Binge-eating disorder is diagnosed when there are recurrent binge-eating episodes with distress, occurring at least once a week for three months, and without regular compensatory behaviors like purging. An episode means eating an unusually large amount in a short period with a sense of loss of control. The distress makes the episodes clinically significant, and the absence of compensatory behaviors distinguishes this from bulimia nervosa. The other options don’t fit because purging weekly points to bulimia, everyday overeating lacks the specific binge pattern with distress and the required frequency, and fear of dieting isn’t a diagnostic criterion.