glutton

Glutton is a noun that refers to a person who habitually consumes more food than is needed or desired. The term can also describe the behavior itself or a person characterized by excessive eating. In modern use, it is often a pejorative label implying lack of self‑restraint.

Etymology and usage: The English word derives from Old French glouton or gloton, from medieval Latin gluttonus. The core sense—excessive consumption of food—appears across related Romance languages, with the term accumulating moral or social connotations over time.

Historical and religious context: In Christian tradition, gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins, viewed as a vice linked to greed, lack of temperance, and the moral failing of indulgence. Similar moral judgments about overeating appear in various cultures, though concepts and thresholds of acceptable appetite differ.

Modern perspective: Gluttony is not a clinical term. Recurrent, compulsive overeating can be described in medical contexts as binge eating or polyphagia and may relate to obesity or eating disorders. Evaluation by health professionals typically addresses physical health, mental health, nutrition, and behavior. Treatments can include psychotherapy, medical management, and lifestyle interventions aimed at healthier eating patterns and impulse control.

Cultural note: The word can describe animals with voracious appetites or appear in literature and satire as a symbol of excess or moral weakness. Related topics include appetite, overeating, binge eating disorder, and gluttony as a concept in ethics and religion.