Compulsive snacking often refers to what doctors call bulimic hyperphagia: the person starts to eat large quantities of food in a very short space of time, outside of mealtimes and without feeling hungry, often secretly and to the point of stomach ache. Unlike bulimia, these attacks are not followed by compensatory behaviours (induced vomiting, taking laxatives, etc.). If you experience these symptoms, talk to your doctor. A restrictive diet in this context is strongly inadvisable, as it can aggravate the disorder over the long term.

For further information, we recommend that you consult :

- The MangerBouger.fr website
- The Santé Publique France website, and its nutrition and physical activity section
- The ANSES website (Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l'alimentation, de l'environnement et du travail), and its section on food and human nutrition.
- The French Nutrition Society website
- The report of the PNNS, Programme Nationale de Nutrition et Santé (2018-2023), which defines all nutritional recommendations.