What Is Binge Eating Disorder?
Binge eating disorder (BED) is a treatable condition characterized by recurrent episodes of consuming food in larger amounts very quickly and to the point of discomfort. BED is one of the newest eating disorders formally recognized in the DSM-5, a manual for assessing and diagnosing mental disorders.
By: Tori Barkosky
Binge eating disorder can result from numerous psychological, social, cultural, and biological factors and is the most common eating disorder in the United States, affecting approximately 2.8 million adults.
Diagnosis
Binge eating disorder (BED) is diagnosed by recurrent episodes, at least once a week for three months, associated with specific criteria, presented with marked distress, and not linked with compensatory behaviors as seen in bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa. Specific criteria include eating an amount of food in a discrete period that is much larger than most people in a similar timeframe and losing control of eating during the episode. Associations with binge eating episodes are eating much more quickly than usual, eating until uncomfortably full, and feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed, or guilty afterward.
What To Look Out For
The warning signs and symptoms of BED feature emotional, behavioral, and physical properties. These include, but are by far not limited to, diminished comfortability with eating around others, stealing and hoarding food in strange places, withdrawing from friends and activities, dieting, frequent checking in the mirror, eating alone out of embarrassment, and feelings of low self-esteem, disgust, depression, and guilt. Furthermore, noticeable fluctuations in weight (up and down), difficulty concentrating, and gastrointestinal complications are common physical attributes of BED.
Impact on the Mind and Body
The health consequences of BED are serious, life-threatening, and affect both the emotional and physical health of the suffering individual. Those struggling with an eating disorder, such as BED, need to seek professional help early on because it increases the likelihood of recovery on both a physical and emotional level. BED can have a negative impact on a person's cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, neurological, and endocrine systems. Common health consequences include low heart rate, slowed digestion, constipation, malnutrition, intestinal obstruction and infection, difficulty falling or staying asleep, fainting and dizziness, reduced metabolic rate, kidney failure, and anemia.
Treatment
Treatment for BED includes medicine and counseling, with the following goals:
Reducing the number of binge-episodes
Developing healthy eating and exercise habits
Dealing with the shame or guilt surrounding the eating disorder
Developing a healthy view of body and self
Receiving treatment for other conditions related to BED, such as anxiety and depression
Counseling services include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy. CBT can help control the urge to binge eat, interpersonal therapy can help one examine connections between relationships and binge-eating, and dialectical behavior therapy focuses on helping to manage emotions. Medicines to reduce the urge to binge-eat include antidepressants, topiramate (Topamax), and lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (Vyvanse). It is important to speak with a doctor or trusted medical professional for more information regarding medicine and counseling services.
BED is a serious and life-threatening condition that is treatable; however, the process of healing takes time and patience. It is essential that those suffering receive treatment and work with medical professionals to heal their relationship with food, body, and self. Reasons for not seeking treatment include embarrassment, distrust, financial worry, and that healing will come if enough time passes. If you or a loved one are suffering from BED, find support and seek help. Know that you are loved, valued, worthy, and deserve to heal.
At BALANCE eating disorder treatment center™, our compassionate, highly skilled team of clinicians is trained in diagnosing and treating the spectrum of eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, compulsive overeating, and other disordered eating and body image issues. In addition to our full-time Day Treatment Program and Weeknight Intensive Outpatient Program, we offer nutrition counseling with a licensed dietitian, meal support, and various other groups and resources to assist those seeking help for food concerns.
Our admissions team would be happy to answer any questions you may have about our programs and services. Book a free consultation call with our admissions team below, or read more about our philosophy here.
This post was written by BALANCE Blog Contributor, Tori Barkosky (she/her).
Tori is currently a third-year student at St. Catherine University, pursuing a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Nutrition Science. Tori is passionate about all things related to intuitive eating, HAES, mental health, body respect, eating disorders, and disordered eating. She desires to become a holistic therapist or psychologist in the future and work with clients with eating disorders and help them recover and heal their broken relationship with food and body and find liberation from diet culture. Outside of classes and work, Tori enjoys yoga, being in nature, and consuming too much coffee.
References
“Binge Eating Disorder.” Binge Eating Disorder | Michigan Medicine, 23 Sept. 2020,
https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/hw266473#hw266509.
“Binge Eating Disorder.” National Eating Disorders Association, 22 Feb. 2018,
https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/learn/by-eating-disorder/bed.
“Binge Eating Disorder Facts and Statistics: The Recovery Village.” The Recovery Village Drug and
Alcohol Rehab, The Recovery Village Drug and Alcohol Rehab, 14 Apr. 2021,
https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/mental-health/binge-eating/binge-eating-statistics/.
Iqbal, Aqsa. and Anis Rehman. “Binge Eating Disorder.” StatPearls, StatPearls Publishing, 5 November 2021.
“Statistics & Research on Eating Disorders.” National Eating Disorders Association, 14 July 2021, https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/statistics-research-eating-disorders.