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What are the Facts about Binge Eating Disorder?

In addition to understanding the causes and symptoms of binge eating disorder (BED), it’s also helpful to understand the facts and statistics:

Binge Eating Disorder Facts

  • 8 percent of American adults suffer from binge eating disorder in their lifetime.1
  • Approximately half of the risk for BED is genetic.2
  • Nearly half of BED patients have a comorbid mood disorder. 2
  • More than half of BED patients have comorbid anxiety disorders. 2
  • Nearly 1 in 10 BED patients have a comorbid substance abuse disorder, usually alcohol use. 2
  • Binge eating or loss-of-control eating may be as high as 25 percent in post-bariatric patients. 3
  • 30 percent of higher weight patients attempting to lose weight in clinical settings meet diagnostic criteria for binge eating disorder (BED) and/or bulimia nervosa (BN). 4
  1. 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.
  2. Ulfvebrand, S., Birgegard, A., Norring, C., Hogdahl, L., & von Hausswolff-Juhlin, Y. (2015). Psychiatric comorbidity in women and men with eating disorders results from a large clinical database. Psychiatry Research, 230(2), 294-299.
  3. Berkman ND, Brownley KA, Peat CM, Lohr KN, Cullen KE, Morgan LC, Bann CM, Wallace IF, Bulik CM. Management and Outcomes of Binge-Eating Disorder. Comparative Effectiveness Review No. 160.
  4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11466589

Recovery from binge eating disorder is possible

Eating Recovery Center provides comprehensive treatment designed to help you stop your disordered eating behavior and identify the bio/psycho/social contributors to your illness. Then, full and lasting recovery can begin. To speak confidentially with a Master's-level counselor, at no cost to you, please call us at 877-825-8584.

Binge Eating Treatment & Recovery Program

Eating Recovery Center and Pathlight Mood and Anxiety Center are accredited through the Joint Commission. This organization seeks to enhance the lives of the persons served in healthcare settings through a consultative accreditation process emphasizing quality, value and optimal outcomes of services.

Organizations that earn the Gold Seal of Approval™ have met or exceeded The Joint Commission’s rigorous performance standards to obtain this distinctive and internationally recognized accreditation. Learn more about this accreditation here.

Joint Commission Seal