For years, binge eating, defined as "eating large amounts of food while feeling a loss of control over eating," lurked in the shadows of anorexia and bulimia as a sign of depression. It usually subsided with treatment of psychotropic medications.

But soon, it emerged from the shadows and became a category of its own, prompting the American Psychiatric Association to put the condition on its watch list in 1994, according to an article in The Morning Call.

As a result, an estimated one half of eating-disorder patients are now classified as binge eaters who do not purge, though they sometimes cross the line between bulimia and anorexia, the article says. About 78.9 percent struggle with depression, anxiety or substance addiction.

Recognizing it as a disorder would encourage insurers to pay for specialized treatment. It is good information for determining treatment in the AfricanAmerican community. African Americans have a 51 percent higher prevalence of obesity than whites, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Determining the cause of the problem could go a long way toward stemming the tide of obesity.

The health impact of obesity, likely caused by binge eating, is great. More than 80 percent of people with Type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese. People who are overweight are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure, which puts them at risk for heart disease and stroke. In 2007, African Americans were 50 percent less likely to engage in physical activity than other races. So, treating binge eating is important.