What is the term for excessive eating?

January 8, 2026 •

4 min read

The medical term for excessive eating, also known as polyphagia or hyperphagia, is often a sign of an underlying medical or psychological issue and is distinct from normal hunger spikes. In fact, unlike simple hunger, polyphagia does not subside after a meal.

Quick Summary

Excessive eating is medically termed polyphagia or hyperphagia, a symptom of conditions like diabetes or hyperthyroidism. Psychologically, it can be a feature of binge eating disorder or bulimia nervosa, which involve recurrent episodes and loss of control.

Key Points

Medical vs. Psychological: Excessive eating has a medical term, polyphagia, which is a symptom, and psychological terms, like binge eating disorder (BED) and bulimia nervosa, which are clinical conditions.
Polyphagia is a Symptom: This constant, insatiable hunger is often caused by an underlying medical issue such as diabetes, hyperthyroidism, or hypoglycemia.
BED Involves Lost Control: Binge Eating Disorder is defined by recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food accompanied by a feeling of loss of control and significant distress, but without purging.
Bulimia Adds Compensation: Bulimia nervosa combines binge eating with compensatory behaviors like self-induced vomiting, excessive exercise, or fasting to prevent weight gain.
Treatment Depends on the Cause: The correct treatment for excessive eating is based on the underlying cause, ranging from medical management for polyphagia to specialized psychological therapy for eating disorders.
Seek Professional Help: It is important to consult a doctor to determine the root cause of excessive eating, as early diagnosis leads to better outcomes.

Demystifying Excessive Eating: Polyphagia, Binge Eating, and Bulimia

Excessive eating is a complex issue with multiple potential causes and clinical definitions. While many people experience occasional overeating, persistent or extreme hunger can be a symptom of a more serious underlying condition. This article will differentiate between the medical symptom of polyphagia and the psychological eating disorders that involve excessive eating.

Polyphagia and Hyperphagia: The Medical Perspective

Polyphagia, or hyperphagia, is the clinical term for an abnormally strong, incessant sensation of hunger or a desire to eat that often leads to consuming excessive quantities of food. It is not a disorder in itself, but rather a symptom indicating an underlying medical issue. Unlike normal hunger, polyphagia does not go away after eating, which can be a key differentiator.

Common medical causes of polyphagia include:

Diabetes mellitus: Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can cause polyphagia due to the body's inability to effectively use glucose for energy.
Hypoglycemia: Low blood sugar can trigger hunger as the body seeks to raise glucose levels.
Hyperthyroidism: An overactive thyroid increases metabolism, leading to increased calorie burning and constant hunger.
Certain medications: Some drugs, such as corticosteroids, are known to increase appetite.
Mental health conditions: Stress, anxiety, and atypical depression can also lead to polyphagia due to hormonal changes.
Rare genetic syndromes: Prader-Willi syndrome and Kleine-Levin syndrome are associated with polyphagia.

Psychological Eating Disorders Involving Excessive Eating

Excessive eating can also be a key feature of specific mental health conditions known as eating disorders. These differ from polyphagia in their psychological components, such as a sense of loss of control, distress, or shame.

Binge Eating Disorder (BED)

BED is a serious mental health condition characterized by frequent episodes of eating large amounts of food in a short time, accompanied by a feeling of losing control. The key features of BED include eating more food than typical in a similar period and feeling unable to control eating during the episode. Additional characteristics can be found on {Link: MSD Manuals https://www.msdmanuals.com/professional/psychiatric-disorders/feeding-and-eating-disorders/bulimia-nervosa}.

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa also involves recurrent binge-eating episodes, followed by compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain. Examples of compensatory behaviors in bulimia nervosa are self-induced vomiting and misuse of laxatives. Other behaviors include fasting and excessive exercise. More details can be found on {Link: MSD Manuals https://www.msdmanuals.com/professional/psychiatric-disorders/feeding-and-eating-disorders/bulimia-nervosa}.

Comparison of Excessive Eating Conditions


Feature	Polyphagia (Medical Symptom)	Binge Eating Disorder (Psychological)	Bulimia Nervosa (Psychological)
Primary Cause	Underlying medical issue (e.g., diabetes, hormonal imbalance).	Complex factors including genetic, psychological, and environmental triggers.	Similar complex factors, often triggered by stress or body image issues.
Control	Driven by a biological signal of insatiable hunger.	Characterized by a strong feeling of lack of control over eating.	Loss of control during a binge, followed by controlled compensatory actions.
Compensatory Behavior	Not typically present, though appetite may increase metabolism.	Not regularly followed by purging or other compensatory behaviors.	Regularly followed by purging or other methods to prevent weight gain.
Body Weight	Can lead to weight gain or, depending on the cause, weight loss.	Often associated with being overweight or obese, but can affect people of any size.	Patients are typically of normal weight or slightly above average.

When to Seek Medical Attention

If you experience persistent excessive eating, consult a healthcare provider to determine the cause. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial. Seek immediate help if it is accompanied by symptoms like excessive thirst or unexplained weight changes, which could indicate conditions like diabetes.

Treatment Approaches for Excessive Eating

Treatment depends on the cause. For medical conditions, treating the underlying issue, such as managing blood sugar for diabetes, resolves the polyphagia. For eating disorders like BED or bulimia, treatment involves psychological therapy, nutritional counseling, and sometimes medication.

Psychological therapies that can help include:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps change thought and behavior patterns related to bingeing.
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT): Focuses on improving relationships to reduce bingeing triggered by interpersonal problems.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT): Can assist with emotional regulation.

Medication and support from dietitians and family can also be helpful. For more information, the National Institute of Mental Health is a resource: www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/eating-disorders.

Conclusion

Understanding the term for excessive eating involves differentiating between the medical symptom polyphagia and psychological disorders like binge eating disorder and bulimia nervosa. Polyphagia stems from biological issues, while BED and bulimia are driven by psychological factors and a loss of control. Professional evaluation is essential for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary medical term for excessive hunger is polyphagia. It is also sometimes referred to as hyperphagia.

Polyphagia is a medical symptom of an underlying physical condition, while binge eating disorder (BED) is a psychological condition. A key difference is the sense of loss of control and distress associated with BED episodes, which is not characteristic of polyphagia.

Common medical conditions causing polyphagia include uncontrolled diabetes, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), and hyperthyroidism. Certain medications and mental health conditions like anxiety can also contribute.

No, excessive eating can be a symptom of a medical condition like polyphagia, or it can be a part of an eating disorder like BED or bulimia nervosa. Only a healthcare professional can provide a proper diagnosis.

Both involve binge eating, but bulimia nervosa is characterized by subsequent compensatory behaviors, such as self-induced vomiting or excessive exercise, which are not part of binge eating disorder.

Diagnosis involves a physical exam, a detailed medical history review, and possibly blood tests to check blood glucose and thyroid function. A psychological evaluation may also be performed.

Treatment for eating disorders typically involves specialized psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or interpersonal therapy (IPT), often combined with nutritional counseling and sometimes medication.