What is Binge Eating Disorder?

You’ve probably seen the ads on TV, the public service announcements or even the billboards. Suddenly it’s all about binge eating disorder or BED. What is Binge Eating Disorder and how is it different from behavior most of us exhibit during the holidays?

Binge eating disorder is characterized by recurrent episodes of excessive eating. The person with binge eating disorder will often eat to the point of discomfort and even though they experience shame and guilt after they will continue to over eat. A person with binge eating disorder will usually not purge or use laxatives like a bulimic would.

Binge eating disorder is now the most common eating disorder with some 3.5% of women and 2% of men suffering from the disease.

Until 2013 binge eating disorder was listed in the DSM-IV as a subcategory of an eating disorder not otherwise specified or EDNOS. As it is now an eating disorder of its own insurance is more likely to cover treatment.

Binge eating disorder is defined as recurring episodes of eating significantly more food in a short period of time than most people would eat under similar circumstances, with episodes marked by feelings of lack of control. Someone with binge eating disorder may eat too quickly, even when he or she is not hungry. The person may have feelings of guilt, embarrassment, or disgust and may binge eat alone to hide the behavior. This disorder is associated with marked distress and occurs, on average, at least once a week over three months.

According to the DSM-5 someone with Binge Eating Disorder will display the following signs and symptoms:

A. Recurrent episodes of binge eating. An episode of binge eating is characterized by both of the following:

1. Eating, in a discrete period of time (e.g., within any 2-hour period), an amount of food that is definitely larger than what most people would eat in a similar period of time under similar circumstances.

2. A sense of lack of control over eating during the episode (e.g., a feeling that one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating).

B. The binge-eating episodes are associated with three (or more) of the following: 1. Eating much more rapidly than normal.
2. Eating until feeling uncomfortably full.
3. Eating large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry.

4. Eating alone because of feeling embarrassed by how much one is eating.

5. Feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed, or very guilty afterward.

C. Marked distress regarding binge eating is present.

D. The binge eating occurs, on average, at least once a week for 3 months.

E. The binge eating is not associated with the recurrent use of inappropriate compensatory behavior as in bulimia nervosa and does not occur exclusively during the course of bulimia nervosa or anorexia nervosa.

So how can you tell if someone you know has BED? A person with binge eating disorder will often, though not always, display some of the following behavioral and emotional characteristics:

Behavioral Characteristics of BED

• Evidence of large amounts of food being eaten such as missing food from the kitchen (if you live with the person) or empty wrappers and/or food containers such as fast food packaging.
• Eating alone, hiding food or hoarding food.
• Fasting that may or may not follow binges.
• Letting food control activities rather than the other way around. The person with binge eating disorder will make great changes to their schedule to accommodate their binges.

Emotional Characteristics of BED

• Social isolation, depression, irritability and moodiness
• Feelings of worthlessness, shame, and anxiety can all trigger a binge. The purpose of the binge is to alleviate those negative feelings.
• Poor body image. Those with BED usually suffer from poor body image and may have been teased about their body and thus may feel disgust at their own size and shape.
• People pleasers. People with BED are often the people who want to maintain peace at all costs. They don’t want to rock the boat and prefer to remain invisible or under the radar.
• Someone who has binge eating disorder will often exhibit a strong desire to be in control at all times and tend to be perfectionists.
• They often have a difficult time expressing their feelings or needs.

Like bulimia size or weight is not a good indicator of BED. Those who suffer from BED can be average size or even larger. Binge eating disorder affects more women than men but not by much. 60% of people with binge eating disorder are women and 40% are men. Most women will develop the disorder in early adulthood while most men will develop it later in midlife. Binge eating disorder affects people of all races.

Binge eating disorder is a real eating disorder. It is not simply overeating. If you think you have BED or you know someone who might please seek help. Call Locus Therapy for more information about treatment for binge eating disorder in the greater Chicago area at (312) 218-7380.