Binge Eating Disorder Facts, Symptoms & What to Know Now
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What is binge eating disorder?
Binge eating disorder (BED) occurs when people both:
Regularly eat a larger amount than others would eat within the same timeframe
Have trouble stopping the binge and feel physically or emotionally upset afterward
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.
Why do people binge eat?
Some people are more likely to binge when they are faced with certain triggers. Binge eating triggers can include:
Stressful life events
Anxiety or depression
Anger-related issues
Substance use disorder (including cannabis)
Yo-yo dieting [1, p.47]
People who develop BED may be more likely to:
Have a family history of bulimia
Struggle with emotional regulation
Have a limited social network
Live in a larger body or have relatives who live in larger bodies
Have a history of dieting or restricting food
Binge eating disorder facts and statistics
Binge eating disorder (BED) is the most common eating disorder in the United States. Yet it remains misunderstood, underdiagnosed and misdiagnosed.
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Binge eating disorder can look like:
Skipping meals during the day and overeating at night
Eating large amounts of food even when not hungry
Eating until uncomfortably full
Eating food because it’s the only thing that brings comfort
Feeling disgusted, depressed, ashamed or guilty after eating
Binge Eating Disorder FAQs
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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.
Around 1.2% of adults in the U.S. have had binge eating disorder in the past year [8].
An estimated 3.5% of women and 2% of men experience binge eating disorder in their lifetime.[7]
Worldwide, 1.5% of women and 0.3% of men experience binge eating disorder in their lifetime.[9]
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 eat until you are uncomfortably full.
You may feel upset during or after a binge with feelings of guilt, shame, regret or lack of control.
You may be more likely to binge if you have a family or personal history of:
Eating disorders
Hormone imbalances
Co-occurring mood, substance or anxiety disorders
Trauma
Dieting/weight loss
You can learn how to stop binge eating with evidence-based, trauma informed care, like the care provided at Eating Recovery Center. 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. More people have found recovery at ERC than any other eating disorder treatment center.
Explore our resources
From personal recovery stories to clinical research and data, we’ve gathered top resources for binge eating disorder below.
Binge Eating Disorder Articles
Binge Eating Disorder Podcasts
Binge Eating Disorder Books
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References
1. Mehler, P.S., & Andersen, A.E. (2022). Eating disorders: A comprehensive guide to medical care and complications (4th ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/12475/eating-disorders?srsltid=AfmBOorqA0gfnsmM7ci_S0cGiudwn4t0AYjqpH0CE-eHMYCkULqIjZ7Z#bookinformation.
2. American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596.
3. Deloitte Access Economics. (June 2020). The social and economic cost of eating disorders in the United States of America: A report for the Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders and the Academy for Eating Disorders. Available at: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/striped/report-economic-costs-of-eating-disorders/.
4. 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. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2015.09.008.
5. Smith, K.E., Orcutt, M., Steffen, K.J., Crosby, R.D., Cao, L., Garcia, L., & Mitchell, J.E. (2019). Loss of control eating and binge eating in the 7 years following bariatric surgery. Obesity Surgery, 29(6), 1773-1780. doi: 10.1007/s11695-019-03791-x.
6. Trace, S.E., Baker, J.H., Peñas-Lledó, E., & Bulik, C.M. (2013). The genetics of eating disorders. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 9, 589-620. doi: 10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-050212-185546.
7. 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. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.03.040.
8. National Institute of Mental Health: Eating Disorders. (Accessed November 8, 2022).
9. Keski-Rahkonen, A. (2021). Epidemiology of binge eating disorder: prevalence, course, comorbidity, and risk factors. Current Opinions in Psychiatry, 34(6): 525-531.