Eating Disorders and Obesity

Obesity is characterized by an excessive amount of fat, which is estimated by body mass index (BMI). Persons with a BMI of 30 kg/m(2) or greater are considered obese. In the past, obesity was been considered an eating disorder. We have learned that most overweight and obese persons do not overeat in any distinctive pattern. For a smaller number, however, 2 clear patterns of overeating have been identified: Binge eating disorder and night eating syndrome. Both are more prevalent among overweight and obese persons than among persons of normal weight, and they contribute to the overweight of such persons.