Final answer:
Binge-eating disorder is characterized by overeating without subsequent purging, distinguished by distress and lack of purging behaviors, leading to risks like obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Step-by-step explanation:
A mental disorder characterized by overeating without vomiting is known as binge-eating disorder. Unlike bulimia nervosa, which involves episodes of excessive eating followed by compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting, laxatives, excessive exercise, or fasting, binge-eating disorder does not include such purging behaviors. People who suffer from this disorder experience recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food, accompanied by feelings of loss of control and significant distress but do not engage in purging afterwards. This can often lead to excessive weight gain and potential health problems such as obesity and risks associated with it like type 2 diabetes.
It is important to distinguish between the two closely related disorders. Bulimia nervosa is characterized by binge eating followed by purging, while binge-eating disorder consists of overeating without subsequent purging. The American Psychiatric Association recognizes binge-eating disorder as a distinct condition, which is important for devising appropriate treatment plans that include counseling and medication. It is the most common eating disorder in the United States.