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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 is 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