Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is a serious mental health condition characterized by recurrent episodes of consuming large quantities of food in a short period, often more rapidly than normal. These episodes are accompanied by a sense of a lack of control over eating. Unlike other eating disorders, such as bulimia nervosa, individuals with BED do not regularly engage in inappropriate compensatory behaviors like vomiting or excessive exercise to prevent weight gain.
Safe & Effective Treatment Options
If you qualify, a licensed clinician evaluates your health history and goals to determine the safest, most effective medication plan for you.
Who is more likely to develop binge eating disorder?
Binge eating disorder can present itself in individuals with average body weight, but its prevalence is higher among those with obesity, especially severe obesity. It’s essential to emphasize that the majority of individuals with obesity do not necessarily have binge eating disorder.
This disorder is more commonly observed in younger and middle-aged individuals, although it can affect people of all age groups, including older individuals.
Notably, binge eating disorder has been found to be prevalent among individuals with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The constant focus on weight and food control associated with diabetes may contribute to the distress experienced by individuals with both conditions. In some cases, binge eating disorder can play a role in the onset of type 2 diabetes, not only due to excessive weight gain but also an increased risk of metabolic abnormalities. Moreover, managing blood glucose, also known as blood sugar, becomes more challenging for those with diabetes who also experience binge eating disorder.
The development of binge eating disorder can be associated with challenging childhood experiences, such as family issues and critical comments related to one’s shape, weight, or eating habits. Additionally, there is a familial pattern to binge eating disorder, indicating a genetic component identified by researchers. This genetic predisposition, along with environmental factors, contributes to the likelihood of developing binge eating disorder.
Symptoms & Causes of Binge Eating Disorder
What are the symptoms of binge eating disorder?
If you have binge eating disorder, you may
- eat a large amount of food in a short amount of time; for example, within 2 hours
- feel you lack control over your eating; for example, you cannot stop eating or control what or how much you are eating
If you have binge eating disorder, you may eat a large amount of food in a short amount of time.
You also may
- eat more quickly than usual during binge episodes
- eat until you feel uncomfortably full
- eat large amounts of food even when you are not hungry
- eat alone because you are embarrassed about the amount of food you eat
- feel disgusted, depressed, or guilty after overeating5
If you think that you or someone close to you may have binge eating disorder, share your concerns with a health care professional, who can connect you to helpful sources of care.
What causes binge eating disorder?
Like other eating disorders, binge eating disorder results from a mix of factors related to your genes, your thoughts and feelings—particularly about your weight and shape—as well as cultural and social issues and your environment. Binge eating disorder also has been linked to depression and anxiety
For some people, dieting in unhealthy ways—such as skipping meals, not eating enough food, or avoiding certain kinds of food—may contribute to binge eating.
Medications to Treat Binge Eating Disorder
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and counseling typically serve as the initial interventions in addressing the disorder. Combining medication with therapy is sometimes recommended for comprehensive treatment, although CBT is often deemed more effective than medication alone. In cases where therapy is not yielding desired results or is not accessible, doctors may prescribe medication as a standalone option.
Binge eating disorder can co-occur with other mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. In instances where these conditions are present, specific medications designed to treat them might also contribute to managing binge eating episodes.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and counseling typically serve as the initial interventions in addressing the disorder. Combining medication with therapy is sometimes recommended for comprehensive treatment, although CBT is often deemed more effective than medication alone. In cases where therapy is not yielding desired results or is not accessible, doctors may prescribe medication as a standalone option.
Binge eating disorder can co-occur with other mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. In instances where these conditions are present, specific medications designed to treat them might also contribute to managing binge eating episodes.
Experts say that anti-addiction drugs might one day help:
Some doctors and scientists hope that weight loss drugs might one day help stop bingeing. The ones available can help people lose weight, but they don’t work very well for bingeing.
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