A Guide to Mental Disorders

Binge Eating Disorder

Binge-eating disorder is a serious condition that always involves feeling like you're not able to stop eating. It also often involves eating much larger than usual amounts of food.

Almost everyone overeats on occasion, such as having seconds or thirds of a holiday meal. But regularly feeling that eating is out of control and eating an unusually large amount of food may be symptoms of binge-eating disorder.

People who have binge-eating disorder often feel embarrassed or ashamed about eating binges. People with the disorder often go through periods of trying to restrict or severely cut back on their eating as a result. But this instead may increase urges to eat and lead to a cycle of ongoing binge eating. Treatment for binge-eating disorder can help people feel more in control and balanced with their eating.

What is the difference between bulimia nervosa vs. binge eating disorder?
Unlike bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder doesn't involve purging calories, such as forced vomiting, abusing laxatives or exercising excessively after eating. A binge eating episode ends with eating. On the other hand, some people with binge eating disorder are chronic dieters. They may attempt to restrict calories before lapsing into binge eating, or they may attempt to diet after a binge to make up for it.

How common is binge eating disorder?
Binge eating disorder is the most common of all eating disorders, accounting for almost half of all diagnoses. In the U.S., it affects almost 3% of the population, including all racial and ethnic groups. It's more commonly diagnosed in women and people assigned female at birth than in men and people assigned male at birth, by a ratio of about 3:2. It's also more commonly diagnosed in teenagers than adults, by a ratio of about 4:3.

What are the symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder?
If you have binge-eating disorder, you may be overweight or obese, or you may be at a healthy weight. Most people with binge-eating disorder feel upset about their body size or shape no matter what the number on the scale is.

Symptoms of binge-eating disorder vary but can include:
- Feeling that you don't have control over your eating behavior, for example, you can't stop once you start.

- Often eating much larger than usual amounts of food in a specific amount of time, such as over a two-hour period.

- Eating even when you're full or not hungry.

- Eating very fast during eating binges.

- Eating until you're uncomfortably full.

- Often eating alone or in secret.

- Feeling depressed, disgusted, ashamed, guilty or upset about your eating.

- How much eating binges affect your mood and ability to function in daily life gives an idea of how serious the condition is for you. Binge-eating disorder can vary over time. The condition may be short-lived, may go away and come back, or may continue for years if left untreated.

- Mental health conditions and physical problems can happen from binge eating.

Complications from binge-eating disorder may include:
- Not feeling comfortable or able to enjoy your life.

- Problems functioning at work, in your personal life or in social situations.

- Isolating or feeling isolated from others socially.

- Weight gain.

- Medical conditions related to weight gain. These may include joint problems, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), poor nutrition and some sleep-related breathing disorders.