Binge Eating Disorder (BED)
ScheduleWhat is Binge Eating Disorder?
People suffering from binge eating disorder experience recurrent episodes of binging on large quantities of food, followed by unhealthy behaviors to compensate for the binging. During the binge, sufferers experience a loss of control, feeling shame and guilt for the binge episode. People who have this disorder may live in higher weight bodies, however, anyone at any weight may struggle with the disorder. For those at higher weights, cultural weight stigma and bullying experiences may play a significant role in the development of Binge Eating Disorder, as well as co-occurring mood disorders and addictions.
An estimated 3.5% of women, 2% of men, and 30% to 40% of those seeking weight loss treatments can be clinically diagnosed with Binge Eating Disorder. BED is the most common eating disorder among U.S. adults.
Symptoms of BED are:
- Overeating in a specific period of time, such as 2 hours
- Feeling out of control when eating
- Eating even when you are full or not hungry
- Rapidly eating
- Eating until you are uncomfortable
- Eating alone or in secret
- Experiencing feelings of shame, disgust, or guilt when eating
- Dieting or participating in other measures to control binge eating
Binge eating disorder can result in serious health consequences, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, joint issues, and other conditions. Successful treatment includes nutrition therapy and psychotherapy.