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Binge eating disorder (BED) is a mental health condition marked by frequent episodes of binge eating, or eating large amounts of food in a short period of time and losing a sense of control over how much is consumed. While the condition was only defined relatively recently, it's already considered the most common eating disorder in the United States.2
Still, despite its widespread nature, there is much for many people to learn about BED, including the official binge eating disorder definition and common signs and symptoms. This can help people more easily recognize the condition in others or themselves.
It's also very possible to treat binge eating disorder, so learning more about care options can be a big help toward finding someone the appropriate type of treatment plan or program.
It's also very possible to treat binge eating disorder, so learning more about care options can be a big help toward finding someone the appropriate type of treatment plan or program.
Within Health offers compassionate, highly-personalized eating disorder treatment programs.
Binge eating disorder is the most common eating disorder in the U.S. The definition of binge eating disorder was only recently added to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the record of all officially recognized mental health conditions, first appearing in the DSM 5, the latest version of the manual.
Binge eating disorder in the DSM 5 is described as a condition involving recurring binge eating episodes, which are marked by:3
Eating within a short period of time (usually considered two hours) an amount of food larger than most people would consume during that time
Losing a sense of control over how much or what is eaten
The meaning of binge eating is also explained in the DSM 5. To be considered a "binge eating" episode, these experiences should be characterized by at least three of the following:3
Eating until uncomfortably full
Eating much more rapidly than normal
Eating alone due to embarrassment over eating behavior
Feelings of disgust, depression, or guilt
Eating large amounts of food despite not feeling physically hungry
According to the DSM 5, the definition of binge eating disorder also involves how frequently these episodes occur. Binge eating at least one day per week for three consecutive months is where the behavior starts to be considered part of an official diagnosis.3
Diagnosing binge eating disorder
To be diagnosed with binge eating disorder, someone must meet the above binge eating disorder criteria as defined in the DSM 5.
The process generally involves consultations with a primary care physician and/or a therapist or eating disorder specialist. These medical professionals will conduct various tests to both confirm any adverse effects eating behavior may be having on someone's physical health and to rule out other similar or related illnesses.4
Specifically, a medical exam for BED may also include:1
A physical exam
Blood and urine tests
A consultation with a sleep disorder center
A specific mental health exam will also often be conducted to evaluate whether someone's thoughts and feelings are in line with those commonly involved with a binge eating disorder definition.4 As long as the person is forthcoming with their condition, in most situations, a mental health professional can accurately assess for BED with a brief interview.
If you or your loved one are struggling with BED or other eating disorders, obtaining a diagnosis is often one of the first steps toward enrolling in an appropriate treatment program. Once medical professionals have examined you or your loved one, they should have a better idea about how the condition is manifesting in your life and offer recommendations on the best course of care.
The official binge eating disorder definition may be relatively new, but doctors and researchers have been tracking the effects of this condition for many years.
Hiding food or evidence of eating (e.g., stashing food wrappers)
Weight fluctuations (usually presenting as weight gain)
Feelings of shame and guilt
Low self-esteem
Frequent dieting
Eating in response to emotional stress
Fixation on food, eating, or body image
Frequent, specific, and intense cravings for certain foods
Related disorders
As with nearly all eating disorders, BED frequently co-occurs with other mental health conditions. Usually, these issues evolve together and work to maintain one another in a vicious cycle.
Feelings like guilt, shame, disgust, and embarrassment are a part of the binge eating disorder definition itself, but these unpleasant emotions can also drive or be associated with various other mood disorders, including depression and anxiety disorders, which frequently co-occur with BED.6
Nearly all eating disorders have been associated with chronic low self-esteem, with one formative study even concluding that this condition was a prerequisite for developing any kind of disordered eating behaviors.8
Effects of binge eating disorder
Unfortunately, untreated binge eating disorder can result in a litany of negative consequences, impacting someone's physical, mental, and emotional health.
Some of the most common mental health complications of binge eating disorder include:7
Worsening depression, anxiety, or body dysmorphia (distorted perception of a specific body part or feature)
Antisocial behavior, including lying, avoidance, and secrecy
Increasingly erratic behavior, including hoarding and even stealing food
Increasing distress, self-loathing, or danger of self-harm
Physically, BED can also lead to complications, including:7
Gallstones
Fatty liver disease
Osteoarthritis
Type 2 diabetes
Cardiovascular disease
Kidney disease
Treatment of binge eating disorder
Once again, although binge eating disorder has only recently been defined, there have already been several studies conducted on the condition, showing the effectiveness of specific treatments. And thankfully, many types of care have shown promise.
When treating binge eating disorders, a holistic approach—focusing on mental, physical, and emotional health—is often the recommended course of treatment.
Therapies for binge eating disorder
Psychotherapy (also known as talk therapy) is the leading form of care for most eating disorders, including binge eating disorder. Some common types of therapy used to treat BED and other eating disorders include:1
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) centers on the concept that disordered behaviors are borne of disordered thoughts. The therapy technique helps patients recognize these unhelpful patterns and learn to proactively change them, eventually eliminating these thoughts and behaviors altogether.
Working with a nutritionist to establish a better relationship with food is recommended for nearly all eating disorders, including BED. These experts can help patients come to terms with certain foods that may be particularly triggering and develop healthier habits around food and eating in general.
Group therapy sessions are a great place for people struggling with eating disorders to form a sense of community or seek support and have a safe space to speak their minds or practice new coping strategies. Still, group therapy is often considered a supplemental treatment and nearly always conducted alongside other types of care.
Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) focuses on communication and interpersonal skills. The goal is to improve relationships with others. Treatment with interpersonal psychotherapy can help reduce binge eating triggered by social anxiety, including problematic relationship dynamics or poor communication skills.
Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) can help people become more aware of their triggers while teaching them to tolerate stress, regulate emotions, and improve relationships with others. The idea behind this therapeutic method is that someone can both deserve love and need to change at once. Mindfulness and mindful eating will likely be a feature of DBT as well.
Medications for binge eating disorder
In some cases, medication may also be recommended as a way to curb the urge to binge eat.
Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate), a stimulant used to treat moderate-to-severe binge eating disorders in adults, is the first FDA-approved medication for this purpose.9 Vyvanse can be habit-forming and misused, but the medication is generally safe and effective when used as directed. Its most common side effects are dry mouth and insomnia.9
Doctors may also recommend other types of medications to help alleviate symptoms related to BED or commonly co-occurring conditions, such as anxiety or depression.
Medication for BED or any other medical disorder should only be taken on a doctor's recommendation, and these prescriptions are assigned on a case-by-case basis. Never take a medication that is not specifically prescribed for you.
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Finding treatment for binge eating disorder
If you or a loved one are struggling with binge eating disorder, it's important to seek out help. This condition can lead to many complications if left untreated.
Consulting your primary care physician, therapist, or other medical professionals is a great way to start. They can write you an official BED diagnosis or help you determine your next best steps.
Treatment that comes to you
At Within Health, we also strive to help. We understand that everyone has a different body shape and size that deserves care and love regardless of the number on the scale or their specific challenges around food. That's why we utilize a team of multi-disciplinary experts to help craft customized treatment plans that consider your particular history and needs.
If you or a loved one are looking for binge eating disorder treatment or healing for another eating disorder, we are here to help. Call our admissions team now to build a healthy relationship with food.
Disclaimer about "overeating": Within Health hesitatingly uses the word "overeating" because it is the term currently associated with this condition in society, however, we believe it inherently overlooks the various psychological aspects of this condition which are often interconnected with internalized diet culture, and a restrictive mindset about food. For the remainder of this piece, we will therefore be putting "overeating" in quotations to recognize that the diagnosis itself pathologizes behavior that is potentially hardwired and adaptive to a restrictive mindset.
Disclaimer about weight loss drugs: Within does not endorse the use of any weight loss drug or behavior and seeks to provide education on the insidious nature of diet culture. We understand the complex nature of disordered eating and eating disorders and strongly encourage anyone engaging in these behaviors to reach out for help as soon as possible. No statement should be taken as healthcare advice. All healthcare decisions should be made with your individual healthcare provider.
No. BED and bulimia nervosa are two distinctive disorders. While they both involve episodes of binge eating, people struggling with bulimia nervosa utilize unhelpful compensatory behaviors to "make up for" those episodes, while people with BED do not.
Should a person with binge eating disorder go on a diet to lose weight?
No. The word “diet” should not be used when discussing treatment for those with BED or any eating disorder. Instead, specialists will develop a nutritional plan that establishes a more positive attitude about the need to eat and solid nutritional support.
Get access to a streamlined experience with our industry-first treatment app. You can attend individual and group sessions, connect with your care team, submit weights and vitals via a numberless scale provided to you, receive meal support, access check-ins, and recovery-focused tools for use between sessions.
