What is binge eating?
Binge eating refers to consuming a large amount of food in one sitting or window of time. It has to be more than what would be eaten in a typical situation. For example, having a large dinner with seconds and dessert at a holiday meal when the average person is doing the same wouldn’t typically qualify.
Sometimes, people feel a loss of control and other characteristics of binge eating even when they do not eat an unusually large amount of food. This can also be a sign that someone could use support from treatment.
What are common signs?
10 common signs of a binge eating disorder (BED) include:
- Feeling a sense of being out of control, like you want to stop eating but can’t.
- Eating really quickly.
- Eating alone or in secret.
- Feeling very full and physically uncomfortable during and after the binge.
- Continuing to eat despite not feeling hungry or full.
- Feeling stressed, depressed, or excited before a binge.
- Feeling disgusted, guilty, or ashamed during or after a binge.
- Buying large amounts of food at a grocery store or restaurant to prepare for a binge.
- Ordering large amounts of food late at night from delivery apps.
- Obsessing over food and eating (setting rules, planning, etc.)
What is it like living with binge eating disorder?
Eating is naturally enjoyable for many people. However, recurrent binge eating can lead to a wide range of emotions, including:
- Resolve to stop the behavior followed by shame, self-criticism, and hopelessness when that doesn’t work.
- A sense of urgency or pressure, dread, or excitement before a binge.
- Relief from the urges/pressure, loss of control, numbness or dissociation, and more.
Living with BED can be isolating. People may avoid eating around others, so they skip social events with friends, family, or colleagues. Additionally, they may be hesitant to share their struggle due to the stigma and shame associated with BED, so they lack emotional support.
What are the physical effects?
Binge eating can lead to:
- GI distress, like acid reflux
- Stomach pain
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Weight changes and instability
Over time, binge eating can dull the body’s natural hunger and fullness signals.
How common is it?
Adults:
- BED is the most common eating disorder among adults.
- Between 1 to 3 out of 100 adults will meet the criteria for BED at some point in their lives.
- In a single year in the U.S., between 44 and 120 adults out of 1000 meet the criteria for BED.
- The experience of binge eating is even more common. More than 1 in 25 adults will engage in binge eating at some point in their lives, with 1 in 50 binge eating in a single year.
Children and adolescents:
- Episodes of “loss of control” eating (feeling out of control or unable to stop eating) can be quite common.
- Almost 1 in 4 youth report as least 1 such episode in the past month.
- Another 1 in 10 report having recurrent episodes.
Research suggests that episodes of eating characterized by that subjective sense of “loss of control,” regardless of the amount of food eaten, might be an early sign or risk factor for developing BED.
Who is more likely to struggle with binge eating?
Women are about 1 to 3 times more likely to experience BED than men. Rates of BED are higher among people seeking weight loss interventions or bariatric surgery. Adults of all ages, racial/ethnic backgrounds, and sexual orientations are similarly likely to experience BED.
Additionally, people experiencing food insecurity due to insufficient financial or local resources are at higher risk of binge eating.
Research also suggests that groups experiencing chronic stress and discrimination are at increased risk for binge eating episodes, including members of racial, ethnic, sexual, and gender minority groups, as well as people in higher weight bodies.
What stigma surrounds binge eating disorder?
Most eating disorders carry a lot of stigma. People often believe the myths that eating disorders are simply personal choices, or that they are driven by vanity or a desire for attention. Media often depicts people with eating disorders using shallow stereotypes and misconceptions. Characters with BED are frequently shown in unflattering, unsympathetic, or even derogatory ways.
Of all eating disorders, BED may carry specific stigma in part because control around food and eating is highly valued by society. When people are perceived to be out of control, the assumption is that they’re simply not disciplined enough or not trying hard enough to stop.
Additionally, many people with BED may have larger bodies and may be impacted by general weight stigma. They may receive general weight loss advice that can actually increase dieting and body dissatisfaction, which can ultimately make eating disorder symptoms worse. They might not feel like they “fit in” in eating disorder treatment centers due to differences in symptom appearance.
Why can’t someone who struggles just stop?
Just like with any eating disorder, there are psychological and biological processes that do not make it easy for someone to just change their eating patterns. The cycle of trying to “just stop” and failing because these underlying processes are not being addressed can lead to further guilt, shame, and hopelessness.
How does treatment for binge eating disorder help?
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective treatments for BED.
We help people:
- Identify the factors causing their eating disorder behavior and work to address them.
- Establish and stick to a regular eating schedule, which is usually three meals and two to three snacks spaced at regular intervals. We know that attempts to skip meals or have strict rules around eating can actually worsen binge eating.
- Reintroduce foods they’re avoiding due to bingeing fears, so they can feel more in control.
- Recognize triggers for binge eating, such as stressors, moods, or external factors and help people learn and practice coping skills.
There’s one FDA-approved medication for treating recurrent binge eating episodes – lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse). Medications can also be used to help address common co-occurring conditions, such as depression.
Treatment is weight neutral, meaning that losing weight is not an explicit goal of treatment for BED. The goal of treatment is to change disordered eating behaviors and improve quality of life. While this may result in weight changes for some, that’s not an explicit goal.
How can I support someone who is binge eating and has yet to seek help?
There are several ways to provide support to loves ones:
- Approach any conversations with a nonjudgmental attitude and curiosity! Remember that your loved one may feel incredibly embarrassed or ashamed of binge eating and find it difficult to talk about for fear of judgment.
- Do not encourage them to diet or restrict their foods, which could accidentally increase the likelihood of binge eating. Instead, you might support them in making sure they’re eating meals and snacks throughout the day (about every three hours) that contain a good balance of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. When someone is nourished, they’re less likely to feel hunger and bodily pressure to eat that can trigger some binge eating episodes.
- Try to help your loved one identify patterns when binge eating urges are most likely to occur. Brainstorm some things you could do together to help them ride out urges, like watching a TV show together, playing a game, going for a walk outside, or another pleasant activity.
- Encourage your loved one to seek out help or support in any way they’re most comfortable. Guided self-help can be effective for some people with BED, and there are self-help programs based on CBT that can be a good starting point. When seeking out professional support, it can be helpful to look for someone with expertise and experience with eating disorders.
By Dr. Nicole Stettler, PhD, clinical psychologist and executive clinical director of Rogers’ Eating Disorder Services, and Dr. Sam Cares, PhD, clinical psychologist, Residential Eating Disorder care for adults at Rogers Behavioral Health
Rogers provides eating disorder help
At Rogers, we understand the devastating impact eating disorders can have on your self-esteem, relationships, and daily life. When you’re ready, we’re here to provide binge eating disorder treatment in a supportive and healing environment so together, we can find the way forward.
Rogers offers help for children, teens, and adults. Call 833-308-5887 for a free, confidential screening.
Part of our summer series, Sunny Days, Healthy Minds
Summer is right around the corner, and there’s never been a better time to prioritize mental health! Rogers is proud to introduce you to eight new offerings designed to fit busy summer schedules and address a variety of mental health concerns – without interfering with vacations and other beloved summer activities. Click here to learn more.
