Binge Eating Disorder is best described as

• A. A temporary urge to snack after meals.
• B. A diet plan that eliminates fats from meals.
• C. An exercise program for weight loss.
• D. A disease in which a person cannot control how much he or she eats.

Answer: (D)

This question tests understanding of what binge eating disorder is. It is a mental health condition characterized by recurrent episodes of eating large amounts of food with a feeling that eating is out of control. The key idea is loss of control over eating during these episodes, which causes distress and impairment. That’s why describing it as a disease in which a person cannot control how much he or she eats best captures the essence of the disorder. The other choices describe situations that aren’t about a loss of control over eating: a temporary urge to snack after meals is just a momentary habit, a diet plan eliminating fats is a dieting choice, and an exercise program focuses on activity rather than eating behavior.