Question: What exactly is considered a "binge eating episode"?

Hello. So my mom claims (though aren't 100% true) that I have binge eating disorder. I have never considered myself to have an eating disorder ever. For the last few days I have been trying to find what the definition of a "binge eating episode" is. I'm not asking anyone to diagnose me or anything, I'm just wondering what it is.

I never feel super full after a so called "episode". I do not feel guilty after it (and don't purge after, so I know it's not bulimia). I don't eat alone usually, mainly around other people. I do eat more than an average person probably often and eat quicker than normal. I am not even 200 pounds as a 5' 6'' female. I am according to the BMI "obese" but don't look or feel obese in any way. My friends tell me I don't look obese either. Just my mom. I know I am overweight. I don't deny that. But I don't think I have an eating disorder. What's really the difference between overeating and binge eating?

RANT if you want to read below, I mainly want the above answered.

My mind is just flowing with thoughts here really. I probably over eat more than the average bear, but other than that, many test say I don't meet the criteria for BED so I don't think I have it, but with my mom throwing it in my face and saying I need to work on my weight so I can have a psychoeducational evaluation that I want and probably NEED. That part annoys me. I am not going to diet, but I am going to drink more water because I rarely would drink water, take some more vitamins and supplements, have a proper bedtime with 8 hours of sleep (I currently sleep 5-6 hours on average), and meditate for 5-10 mins before bed. That's it. I am allowing to eat whatever I want to, but I even felt by drinking more water yesterday, I wasn't feeling as hungry. I am feeling a lot more thirstier though...

Thanks for your help .

I have ASD so please be kind if I say something socially unacceptable. Thank you.

Binge Eating Disorder

According to the DSM-5 criteria, to be diagnosed as having Binge Eating Disorder a person must display:

Recurrent episodes of binge eating. An episode of binge eating is characterized by both of the following:

Eating, in a discrete period of time (e.g. within any 2-hour period), an amount of food that is definitely larger than most people would eat during a similar period of time and under similar circumstances.

A sense of lack of control over eating during the episode (e.g. a feeling that one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating).

The binge eating episodes are associated with three or more of the following:

eating much more rapidly than normal
eating until feeling uncomfortably full
eating large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry
eating alone because of feeling embarrassed by how much one is eating
feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed or very guilty afterward
Marked distress regarding binge eating is present
Binge eating occurs, on average, at least once a week for three months
Binge eating not associated with the recurrent use of inappropriate compensatory behaviours as in Bulimia Nervosa and does not occur exclusively during the course of Bulimia Nervosa, or Anorexia Nervosa methods to compensate for overeating, such as self-induced vomiting.

Note: Binge Eating Disorder is less common but much more severe than overeating. Binge Eating Disorder is associated with more subjective distress regarding the eating behaviour, and commonly other co-occurring psychological problems.

I don't think you have binge eating disorder. Sounds like your mom doesn't like how you eat and it has something to do with her own psychological problems but if you feel fine and don't have an unhealthy relationship with food I wouldn't worry.

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