Which of the following best describes binge eating?

Binge eating is best described as an eating disorder involving compulsive overeating. This condition is characterized by the consumption of large quantities of food in a short period of time, often accompanied by feelings of loss of control during the episode. Individuals who engage in binge eating typically do so in the absence of compensatory behaviors, such as purging, which differentiates it from other eating disorders like bulimia nervosa. Understanding binge eating as a mental and physical health issue highlights the emotional distress and potential health risks, such as obesity and related health complications, that can result from this behavior.

The other options do not accurately capture the nature of binge eating. For example, frequent small meals do not reflect the compulsive and excessive nature of binge eating, a method for weight loss is contradictory to the characteristics of binge eating, and an increase in calorie restrictions would imply a reduction in food intake rather than the compulsive overeating described in binge eating. Thus, option B appropriately represents this disordered eating behavior.