What is binge eating disorder?
Binge eating disorder (BED) is a widely misunderstood mental disorder — despite the fact that it affects millions of Americans. This illness, which involves frequent episodes of overeating marked by distress and lack of control, has long been underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed.
Binge eating goes beyond feeling “stuffed” or overeating on occasion. With binge eating disorder, binges become a regular occurrence, feel out of control and are followed by distress, shame and embarrassment.
Binge eating disorder was truly acknowledged as a separate and distinct disorder when it was added as an Axis 1 diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V). This classification has helped raise awareness of the seriousness and legitimacy of binge eating disorder among the general public and healthcare professionals alike.
However, misconceptions still exist.
What binge eating disorder is NOT
Binge eating disorder is commonly confused with bulimia because it involves bingeing. However, unlike bulimia, sufferers do not compensate for the binge by vomiting, abusing laxatives or diuretics, or over-exercising.
Another misconception about BED is that someone suffering from binge eating disorder must be overweight or obese, when in reality, people of all shapes and sizes can have bingeing problems.
Binge eating disorder clinicians share more about this eating disorder in the videos on this page.
How to stop binge eating
If you have binge eating disorder, it does not mean you lack self-control. It just means that you have an illness that requires specialized therapeutic care. There is no shame in having binge eating disorder and there is no shame in seeking professional help.
At Eating Recovery Center, we offer treatment programs dedicated to binge eating disorder and related issues. Please call us at 877-825-8584 to speak confidentially with one of our Master's level clinicians. The call is free. We can help you understand your treatment options and what to expect during the healing process.
Learn more about the
Binge Eating Treatment & Recovery Program
A full and lasting recovery from binge eating is possible
The Eating Recovery Center is the nation's only health care system dedicated to the treatment of binge eating disorder at all levels of care, including inpatient treatment, residential treatment, partial hospitalization treatment and intensive outpatient treatment.
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