What is it called when you keep eating when you're full?

November 22, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the National Eating Disorders Association, Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is the most common eating disorder in the U.S., affecting millions of people. But what is it called when you keep eating when you're full, and how can you distinguish it from simple overindulgence? This behavior, particularly when chronic and distressing, is often referred to as compulsive eating or Binge Eating Disorder.

Quick Summary

This article explores the behavior of continuing to eat past fullness, identifying it as compulsive eating and potentially Binge Eating Disorder. It covers the psychological and physiological factors involved, distinguishing between casual overeating and the more serious condition.

Key Points

Term Definition: The term for consistently eating when you're full is compulsive overeating, and when done in large, discrete episodes with a sense of lost control, it can be diagnosed as Binge Eating Disorder (BED).
Emotional Triggers: Often, this behavior is a coping mechanism for emotional distress, such as stress, anxiety, or boredom, rather than a response to physical hunger.
Biological Signals: Chronic overeating can disrupt the body's hormonal balance, specifically the signals of satiety like leptin, which makes it harder to recognize when you are full.
Health Risks: While occasional overeating has temporary side effects, frequent episodes lead to long-term health problems, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular issues.
Mindful Eating: Practicing mindful eating—paying full attention to the food and the body's cues—can help regain a healthy relationship with food and prevent overindulgence.
Professional Help: Treatment often involves a multidisciplinary team and evidence-based therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to address underlying causes and develop healthier coping skills.
Not a Willpower Issue: Compulsive eating is not a character flaw but a complex condition influenced by biological, psychological, and environmental factors, so seeking compassionate, professional help is crucial.

Compulsive Overeating vs. Binge Eating Disorder: The Key Differences

While casual overeating, like having an extra slice of pie during the holidays, is common and usually harmless, the act of consistently eating beyond the point of comfortable fullness can indicate a more serious underlying issue. This behavior can stem from emotional or psychological triggers, not physical hunger, and can have significant health impacts over time.

Psychological and Environmental Triggers

Many factors can cause a person to ignore their body's natural satiety signals. In modern society, food is abundant and often linked with emotional comfort, celebration, or stress relief. People may use food as a coping mechanism for difficult feelings like sadness, boredom, or anxiety. Other triggers are more external, such as the social pressure to eat at gatherings, large portion sizes at restaurants, or the presence of highly palatable, processed foods.

The Science of Satiety

Understanding the biology behind hunger and fullness can provide important insight. The body produces a complex mix of hormones to regulate eating behavior. Ghrelin, often called the 'hunger hormone,' signals the brain that it is time to eat, while leptin, produced by fat cells, signals satiety, or fullness. Regularly overriding these signals can disrupt this hormonal balance, making it harder for the brain to recognize when the body is full and leading to leptin resistance in the long term.

The Health Consequences of Chronic Overeating

Overeating, especially when it becomes a frequent pattern, has both short-term and long-term health consequences.

Short-Term Effects:

Acid reflux or heartburn from excess stomach acid.
Stomach discomfort, bloating, and feelings of sluggishness.
Elevated blood sugar levels, especially after consuming high-carbohydrate meals.
Feelings of guilt, shame, and disgust regarding one's eating habits.

Long-Term Effects:

Weight Gain: Consistent excess calorie intake leads to the body storing unused energy as fat.
Type 2 Diabetes: Elevated blood sugar levels and insulin resistance are significant long-term risks.
Cardiovascular Issues: High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease can result from regular overeating.
Leptin Resistance: The body becomes less sensitive to the satiety hormone, leading to a vicious cycle of continued eating.
Psychological Distress: Worsening anxiety, depression, and social isolation are common.

The Importance of Mindful Eating and Intervention

One of the most effective strategies for managing a poor relationship with food is through mindful eating. This practice involves paying full attention to the experience of eating, slowing down to savor the food, and listening to the body's natural hunger and fullness cues. For those with more severe, compulsive patterns, professional help is crucial. Treatment can involve a team of specialists, including therapists and dietitians, and often includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to address emotional triggers and thought patterns.

Comparison Table: Casual Overeating vs. Compulsive Overeating


Feature	Casual Overeating	Compulsive Overeating / Binge Eating Disorder
Frequency	Occasional (e.g., holidays, parties)	Chronic and recurring (e.g., at least once per week)
Driving Factor	Enjoyment, celebration, social setting	Emotional distress (stress, anxiety, boredom)
Control	A conscious choice, still feel in control	A profound sense of loss of control during episodes
Feelings	May feel regret but moves on quickly	Intense shame, guilt, and disgust afterwards
Impact	Temporary discomfort, no lasting health effects	Significant long-term health risks and psychological distress

Conclusion: Seeking Professional Guidance

The behavior of repeatedly eating when full, especially when accompanied by a feeling of being out of control, points towards a complex issue requiring compassionate understanding and a comprehensive treatment approach. It is not a matter of willpower but rather a combination of biological, psychological, and environmental factors. For those who recognize these patterns in themselves, taking the step to consult a healthcare professional or an eating disorder specialist is vital for finding support and beginning the journey towards a healthier relationship with food. Effective treatment can help individuals break the cycle and develop coping strategies to manage the underlying emotional triggers. It's a path toward healing that is possible with the right resources and support. For further information and assistance, a useful resource is the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), which offers valuable support and resources for those affected.

Frequently Asked Questions

Occasional overeating is a common, often planned, event like a large holiday meal, typically followed by temporary discomfort. Binge Eating Disorder (BED), however, involves recurring, frequent episodes of eating an unusually large amount of food in a short period, accompanied by a feeling of lost control and significant distress afterwards.

Yes, this is known as emotional eating. Many people turn to food to cope with negative feelings like stress, sadness, or boredom, as eating can temporarily improve mood by releasing endorphins.

True physical hunger develops gradually, while a craving is often sudden and intense, focused on a specific food. A simple trick to test this is to drink a glass of water and wait 10 minutes; if the hunger persists, it's more likely to be physical.

In the short term, overeating can cause discomfort, bloating, and acid reflux. In the long term, regular overconsumption can disrupt hormonal signals like leptin, lead to weight gain, and increase the risk of serious health conditions such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

The '80 percent full' rule, or hara hachi bu, is a mindful eating practice from Okinawa, Japan. It involves eating until you are about 80% full, leaving a small amount of space in your stomach to aid digestion, regulate hunger hormones, and prevent overeating.

Professional treatment for compulsive eating often includes psychotherapy, like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), to address the underlying causes. Nutritional counseling from a registered dietitian is also used to establish healthy eating patterns and re-attune to the body's signals.

For many, restrictive dieting can trigger cycles of binge eating. Depriving oneself of certain foods can increase urges and lead to a feeling of being out of control when those foods are finally consumed.