To overeat means to eat more food than your body actually needs. When you overeat, you keep eating past the point of feeling satisfied, often until you feel uncomfortably full or even sick.

You might overeat at Thanksgiving dinner, going back for third helpings even though you're already stuffed. Or you might overeat candy on Halloween, consuming so much that your stomach hurts. Sometimes people overeat because the food tastes so good they can't stop, or because they're eating while distracted by a movie or video game and don't notice how much they've consumed.

Overeating once in a while, like at a special celebration, usually isn't a big problem. Your body can handle an occasional feast. But overeating regularly can make you feel sluggish and uncomfortable, and over time it can lead to health problems. Your body sends signals when it has had enough food, like a feeling of fullness or satisfaction. Learning to notice these signals can help you stop eating when your body has what it needs, rather than continuing until you feel miserable.

The opposite of overeating is eating just the right amount, which leaves you feeling energized and satisfied rather than stuffed or uncomfortable.