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Binge eating disorder (BED) occurs when people both:
Almost everyone overeats on occasion, such as eating past fullness when having something we really enjoy. For some people, excessive eating that feels out of control and becomes a regular occurrence crosses the line to BED.
Binge eating disorder can look like:
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73% of patients no longer reported significant eating disorder symptoms
There is no single cause of binge eating disorder. BED is caused by a combination of genetic, psychological and sociocultural factors. BED is most likely to appear in individuals aged 30-60 although it can occur in younger and older individuals, affecting similar numbers of males and females [1, p. 47]
Some people are more likely to binge when they are faced with certain triggers. Binge eating triggers can include:
People who develop BED may be more likely to also:
Eating disorders have multiple causes — including genetic and neurobiological causes. Several factors explain why BED may be more likely to happen within certain families:
Psychological and emotional factors can lead an individual to binge eat. The following traits are associated with a higher risk for developing an eating disorder, including BED:
In addition, individuals with BED often struggle with co-occurring mood disorders, anxiety and/or substance use. Many have experienced trauma. Some struggle to navigate developmental milestones and life changes.
There is a common misconception that BED only impacts people in larger bodies, and that people in larger bodies can’t have restrictive eating disorders. These cultural messages can reinforce disordered thoughts and behaviors for those struggling with eating disorders, including BED, leading to feelings of shame and embarrassment around food and body image.
We know that eating disorders affect people of all shapes and sizes, and that you cannot tell whether someone has an eating disorder by looking at them. Pervasive weight stigma is a key sociocultural factor influencing the development of BED.
BED is characterized by frequent episodes of overeating (bingeing) – at least once a week over a period of at least three months. People with BED also feel a lack of control over binge eating and have intense feelings of distress.
You may wonder, “Do I (or does my loved one) have binge eating disorder?” If so, please take our brief BED quiz at the link below.
Warning signs of BED include:
Millions want to learn how to stop overeating, wondering, “why do I binge?” But BED is often hidden in shame, secrecy and isolation. Binge eating can cause problems with day-to-day life and is very difficult to stop on your own. In some cases, depression and body image issues become so pronounced that individuals neglect their own self-care. People who binge eat regularly are unlikely to bring this behavior up to their loved ones or their doctors, often due to feelings of shame or guilt [1, p. 46].
Some individuals find themselves in a repeated cycle of restricting food and binge eating. Restricting food includes a variety of behaviors:
In the restrict-binge cycle, restricting food is followed by binge eating. Then a new diet is started, and food is restricted again. Then another binge follows. This is also commonly known as “yo-yo dieting,” which is common in people who develop BED [1, p. 47].
Severe food restriction often backfires, leading to a binge. Why? Ghrelin (the hunger hormone mentioned in the next section) increases when food intake is restricted, making you feel even more hungry than you were. Due to increased hunger, a binge episode may occur again, leading to more food restriction. And the cycle continues.
Emotional eating (along with stress eating) is common in individuals with BED. But why is food so closely tied to our emotions? People emotionally eat (and stress eat) because it works. Here’s why: When we eat high-fat, sugary or salty foods, cortisol (a stress hormone) decreases and ghrelin (a hunger hormone) increases. For those in high-stress environments, eating a bag of chips or a box of cookies can lower stress in the moment. Over time, emotional and stress eating can lead to problems.
Since binge eating is a primary feature of both BED and bulimia, how can you tell the difference between the two? Binge episodes in bulimia are followed by compensatory behaviors or purging behaviors. Purging means “getting rid of” calories consumed via:
Purging behaviors with bulimia may be seen, heard, witnessed or suspected. This means that BED warning signs may be harder to spot than bulimia warning signs, making it easier to hide BED (although purging with bulimia is often kept secret and hidden, too). Interestingly, having a history of bulimia can increase the risk for developing BED [1, p. 48].
The following mental health concerns are commonly seen in people who binge eat regularly:
Understanding common co-occurring disorders that often appear alongside BED can help you understand why people binge eat and who might be at risk. Effective BED treatment addresses binge eating and all co-occurring mental health concerns. This points to the importance of having a comprehensive assessment for BED and choosing to work with highly experienced eating disorder clinicians.
Binge eating can cause many health issues, potentially impacting every organ system in the body, including:
Unlike more restrictive eating disorders (i.e., anorexia and bulimia), BED is unlikely to cause death [1, p. 77].
Having a limited access to adequate medical and behavioral health services can lead to a number of problems for people with BED in larger bodies. This includes:
Weight stigma and anti-fat bias have shaped how the medical field has historically defined health risks associated with BED. Weight stigma has also traditionally impacted how people in larger bodies are treated.
If you suspect that you or a loved one might have BED, you will need to undergo an eating disorder assessment. You will be asked questions about:
If you are struggling, we’d be happy to have a conversation with you to discuss binge eating symptoms. With one phone call, we’ll help you better understand what you’re going through and what you might need. View our assessment process here.
Health care providers look to the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) to diagnose individuals with BED.
To receive a diagnosis, an individual must meet all of the criteria in items 1-3 below [2].
Binge episodes must take place at least once per week for at least three months. To be diagnosed with BED, a person must have recurring episodes of binge eating during which they both:
To be diagnosed with BED, a person must experience three or more of the following during binge eating episodes:
The person must also have “marked distress” regarding their binge eating behaviors.
To receive a diagnosis of BED, the binge eating cannot be associated with the recurrent use of inappropriate compensatory behavior as in bulimia and does not occur exclusively during the course of bulimia or anorexia. If a diagnosis of BED is made, the person making the assessment will also determine whether the eating disorder symptoms are mild, moderate, severe or extreme.
If you or someone you care about is struggling with binge eating, please reach out to our team. We can help you learn more about BED diagnosis and treatment.
Just like with all eating disorders, you cannot tell whether someone has BED by looking at them. People who struggle with BED come in all shapes and sizes. However, when those with BED are living in larger bodies, they often face weight stigma when trying to access medical and behavioral health services and are dismissed with instructions to diet instead of being diagnosed with an eating disorder.
BED treatment helps people overcome the cycle of binge eating as they heal their relationship with food. For far too long, people with BED, especially those in larger bodies, were ushered into weight loss programs that often made things worse. Here at Eating Recovery Center (ERC), we offer binge eating treatment programs where you can find freedom from your eating disorder.
Eating Recovery Center (ERC) is one of the only treatment centers in the U.S. offering specialized, targeted virtual and in-person programs to help you overcome binge eating. Explore our three distinct BED treatment offerings below:
Get compassionate care and evidence-based therapy from the comfort of home.
Benefit from specialized, comprehensive programs for BED.
Find recovery with others experiencing a variety of disordered eating symptoms.
BED is a serious eating disorder, but many people do recover. Those who start treatment early may be more likely to maintain a long-term recovery from binge eating. At ERC, our clinicians use several evidence-based therapies as the core of the treatment approach:
While binge eating disorder is the most common eating disorder, it is also treatable with specialized care from experienced professionals. Recovery starts with finding the right support.
Our providers recommend enhanced cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-E) to address BED thoughts and behaviors. CBT for binge eating helps you to:
The path to recovery may also include CBT for co-occurring mental health concerns like:
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) has been shown to be highly effective in helping people recover from a variety of mental health and eating disorder concerns. At ERC, our therapists can help you develop skills in the following areas that can promote binge eating recovery:
These core DBT skills can make a significant difference in recovery [1, p. 47].
With an emphasis on flexibility, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) can help you learn the skills to deal with difficult thoughts, feelings and emotions. In application, the acronym might also stand for:
ACT can also help you address several significant questions that will support your journey to recovery:
Exposure and response prevention (ERP) can help you challenge and overcome binge eating thoughts and behaviors. As a form of CBT, ERP helps you:
ERP can help you find the confidence to abstain from eating disorder behaviors as you make progress in recovery. ERP is also very effective at treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
If you or someone you care about struggles with binge eating, we hope you find comfort in knowing that you are not alone and that recovery is possible. To learn how to break the binge eating cycle and how to recover from binge eating, please reach out today. A member of our compassionate admissions team will be there to support you on your journey to find help for overeating.
“Binge eating disorder recovery looks different for everyone. Eating patterns ebb and flow. But we can learn how to manage our emotions in the process and identify the connection between our emotions and our eating habits. Recovery is a path and not a destination.”
We also work to identify and treat any co-occurring conditions that might be contributing to binge eating, including these mental health concerns:
For far too long, people with BED, especially those in larger bodies, have been ushered into weight loss programs that often exacerbate the behavior they were seeking help for in the first place.
The intentional restriction of food intake or addition of significant exercise only fuels feelings of shame around food and body image.
Here at Eating Recovery Center (ERC), we provide education about health, weight and nutrition from a weight-inclusive perspective, working with you to address the causes and impact of binge eating.
Our programs teach mindful eating with an “all foods fit” approach and emphasis on body neutrality, helping you break free from food rules and diet mindsets for good.
Through our comprehensive binge eating disorder treatment program, we offer hope and understanding that binge eating is treatable. You can gain the freedom you deserve to live a meaningful, fulfilling life.
Hope matters. But healing demands more. That’s why our treatment plans are built by physicians shaping the field, informed by the latest medical advances and designed for measurable progress, giving you a trusted partner in caring for your patients.
Research-driven strategies. Rigorous clinical protocols. Evidence-based care from experts shaping behavioral health treatment. No matter what your patient is facing, healing isn’t just possible. It’s happening here – and we’ll partner with you every step of the way.
Refer a patient
BED is the most common eating disorder in the United States, yet it remains widely misunderstood, underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Here are some of the latest facts and statistics about BED.
From personal recovery stories to clinical research and data, we’ve gathered top resources for binge eating disorder below.
Overcoming Binge Eating, Second Edition: The Proven Program to Learn Why You Binge and How You Can Stop by Christopher G. Fairburn, MD
Find Online | Find at a Library
Gorge: My Journey Up Kilimanjaro at 300 Pounds by Kara Richardson Whitely
Find Online | Find at a Library
Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat How to Break Your Eat repent repeat Cycle by Michelle May, MD
Find Online | Find at a Library
Binge Eating Disorder — The Journey to Recovery and Beyond by Amy Pershing and Chevese Turner
Find Online | Find at a Library
Health At Every Size: The Surprising Truth About Your Weight by Lindo Bacon
Find Online | Find at a Library
Body Kindness: Transform Your Health from the Inside Out--and Never Say Diet Again by Rebecca Scritchfield
Find Online | Find at a Library
Binge eating goes beyond feeling “stuffed” or overeating on occasion, which is part of a normal pattern of eating. With binge eating disorder, binges become a regular occurrence, feel out of control and are followed by emotional distress, shame and embarrassment.
A binge is defined as eating an “abnormally large” amount of food. But the amount of food consumed is less important than the level of distress you experience following a binge. What constitutes a binge is whether it is marked by significant emotional distress.
You may binge eat if you regularly eat more than most people would within the same time period, even if you’re not hungry. You may also eat until uncomfortably full. You may feel upset during or after a binge with feelings of guilt, shame, regret or lack of control.
You can learn how to stop binge eating with evidence-based, trauma informed care. Through Eating Recovery At Home, you’ll join a small community with others who share relatable experiences around food and body image. Together, you’ll learn and practice a mindful eating approach while building skills to manage binge eating behaviors.
There are many biological, psychological and environmental factors that influence the development of eating disorders. 95 percent of patients with binge eating disorder have a family history of binge eating or substance use issues. Additional contributing factors include hormones, mood and anxiety disorders, traumatic experiences, and dieting/weight loss efforts.
Warning signs of binge eating disorder include:
You may also notice extra food wrappers or fast-food receipts or signs of food hoarding.
Around 1.2% of adults in the U.S. have had binge eating disorder in the past year [1]. An estimated 3.5% of women and 2% of men experience binge eating disorder in their lifetime. [2] Worldwide, 1.5% of women and 0.3% of men experience binge eating disorder in their lifetime. [3]
[1] National Institute of Mental Health: Eating Disorders. (Accessed November 8, 2022).
[2] Hudson, J. I., Hiripi, E., Pope, H. G., & Kessler, R. C. (2007). The prevalence and correlates of eating disorders in the national comorbidity survey replication. Biological Psychiatry, 61(3), 348-358.
[3] Keski-Rahkonen, A. (2021). Epidemiology of binge eating disorder: prevalence, course, comorbidity, and risk factors. Current Opinions in Psychiatry, 34(6): 525-531.
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Catherine Ruscitti, PsyD, CEDS
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