More than 600,000 people in Italy are living with binge eating disorder, a condition that is rapidly becoming the most widespread eating disorder in the country.

Today, it accounts for over 20 percent of the nearly three million Italians diagnosed with eating-related conditions, and doctors warn the number is still growing. In many cases, binge eating leads to obesity and serious long-term health problems, making early diagnosis crucial.

The issue was at the center of discussions during the national conference of SIRIDAP, where specialists from the Fondazione Ananke stressed that obesity is not always the result of a poor diet or lack of willpower.

“Binge eating is not simply about food,” experts explained. “It is a psychological disorder influenced by emotional, biological and social factors.”

Unlike other eating disorders, binge eating involves repeated episodes of uncontrolled overeating without compensatory behaviors such as vomiting or excessive exercise. It has now surpassed anorexia and bulimia in frequency.

Health authorities confirm that diagnoses are steadily increasing, often linked to obesity of psychological origin. Experts are now calling for a major shift in perspective: obesity should not automatically be treated as a lifestyle issue but, in many cases, as a signal of underlying mental distress.

As demand for care rises, a renewed debate has emerged over whether binge eating should be officially recognized as a chronic condition within Italy’s essential healthcare system, a move that would guarantee better access to specialized treatment.