An eating disorder is an abnormality in the amount or manner of eating that negatively affects a person's physical or mental health. It is a general term for illnesses such as "anorexia nervosa" and "bulimia nervosa." Nowadays there are an increasing number of cases diagnosed as "binge eating disorder (BED)." However, the name and symptoms of BED are not generally known. Although this disorder is believed to develop more frequently in working-age men, "It is even unknown how many people have it," warns a specialist.

While bulimics try to offset the amount of food they have eaten by deliberately vomiting or taking laxatives, binge eaters do not vomit, but instead gain weight. They impulsively eat high-calorie foods such as cakes and pastries on multiple occasions, such as between-meal treats or midnight snacks. If left untreated, BED can lead to metabolic syndrome, or even depression due to a poor lifestyle. In some cases, people first seek medical advice for the onset of depression and are diagnosed with BED afterward.

BED was newly included in the American Psychiatric Association’s revised Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) in 2013.

Dr. Yoshikatsu Nakai of the Karasuma Oike Nakai Clinic, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, who has been conducting clinical research on BED, proposes to call it "Muchagui-sho" in Japanese rather than using the medical term "Kashokusei-shogai" to avoid the discomfort from calling it "shogai," or a disability. This spring, he published "Binge Eating Disorder" (Person-shobo Co. Ltd.) for the general public.

According to Dr. Nakai, a survey which included other clinics revealed that compared to anorexia and bulimia, where 90% of patients are female, the percentage of male binge eating disorder patients is higher at 30 to 40%. The age range for BED patients is also relatively wide, from their 20s to 50s. He theorizes that in many cases it develops due to stress in the workplace or other situations.

The treatment for BED is basically adjusting patients’ life rhythm without missing school or work. The doctor said, "They get up in the middle of the night to eat which badly affects their life rhythm. First, I help them fix that rhythm by eating three times a day and sleeping well."

Following that, he suggests cognitive behavioral therapy in which patients record what they eat by taking photos of receipts or meals may be effective. It is better to reduce calorie intake by limiting the frequency and quantity of food and drink, than to completely stop binge eating. After numerous counseling sessions to help them cope with stress, he says that many patients recover within three to twelve months.

Dr. Nakai said, "I hope BED becomes better known so that people who don’t know what they are suffering from can be saved."