What constitutes an overeater?

Question

What constitutes an overeater? Can someone be thin and an overeater? What has to occur for someone to be diagnosed with this eating disorder?

Answer 1

Overeating is a behavior that, while generally not a medical problem, in some cases is a symptom of binge eating disorder or bulimia. In more general terms it refers to the persistent consumption of excess food in relation to the energy that the person expends, leading to weight gain and often to obesity. This may be a brief or short term process (many people overindulge generally during festivities or while on holiday) or a longer term process.

One organization that helps overeaters is Overeaters Anonymous, which operates a 12-step program.

Overeating has been linked to the use of medications known as dopamine antagonists, such as olanzapine [1].

Yes, thin people can overreat.

Answer 2

Basically it is all about weight gain. If you eat enough to gain weight beyond your ideal weight for your height, than you are an over eater. Some kids and teenagers can put away huge amounts of foods and never gain weight. They have such a high metabolic rate that they stay thin. They would never be classed as over eaters. An eating disorder has to have physical side effects like obesity or anorexia. Everybody seems to miss the point that food is a highly personal issue and there is no "magic fix" that applies to everyone everywhere. While eating healthy is pretty much determined by the amount of processed food you eat, there are some that can tolerate it and some that cannot.

Answer 3

If someone eats in excess, like snacking all the time, plus eating 3 square meals a day, that constitutes an overeater.