Which of the following scenarios best describes a binge-eating episode under the DSM-5 criteria?

• A. An individual skips meals throughout the day and feels guilty about not eating enough.
• B. An individual eats a normal meal but feels anxious about gaining weight.
• C. An individual eats an unusually large amount of food in a short period of time and feels a lack of control over eating during the episode.
• D. An individual restricts food intake and exercises excessively to compensate for calories consumed.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the DSM-5 criteria for a binge-eating episode, which includes consuming an unusually large amount of food within a discrete period (e.g., within 2 hours) and experiencing a sense of lack of control over eating during the episode.
2. Evaluate each scenario by checking if it involves both the consumption of a large amount of food and the feeling of loss of control during that eating episode.
3. Identify that skipping meals or eating a normal meal without loss of control does not meet the binge-eating criteria.
4. Recognize that feelings of guilt or anxiety alone, without the large amount of food and loss of control, do not define a binge-eating episode.
5. Conclude that the scenario describing an individual eating an unusually large amount of food in a short period and feeling a lack of control best fits the DSM-5 definition of a binge-eating episode.