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0203 326 9160 0203 761 7026 0203 761 7027 0203 761 7029Binge eating disorder (BED) is a serious mental health condition characterised by episodes of eating large amounts of food and feeling a loss of control during these episodes.
It is the most common eating disorder in the UK
During episodes of binge eating people:
Binge episodes are not followed by compensatory behaviours such as vomiting or over-exercise (unlike in the case of bulimia). However, many people with BED restrict their diet heavily between binges, which can increase the likelihood of future episodes.
The shame and other negative feelings they feel as a result of their binge eating behaviour can likewise add to people’s vulnerability, with binge eating serving both as a source of initial emotional relief and subsequent distress.
BED is the most common of the eating disorders, is highly distressing for sufferers and can cause severe medical problems, however it is far less researched than anorexia and bulimia and thus remains less understood both in terms of its causes and effective treatment options.
Binge eating disorder was classified as a discrete mental health disorder for the first time in 2013.
This was the result of accumulating evidence from studies comparing BED to anorexia, bulimia and obesity – the research1 found:
People with BED often experience medical difficulties including obesity and metabolic disorders, cardiovascular problems and Type 2 diabetes.
The good news is there is also a higher rate of recovery from BED compared to the other eating disorders.
Like other eating disorders and many other mental health conditions, there is not one set cause of binge eating disorder. Instead, BED is caused by the interplay of a variety of biopsychosocial factors that vary from person to person.
Reflecting the fact that BED has only recently been formally recognised as a discrete eating disorder, it remains very under-researched. However, it has been hypothesised to share many causal and maintenance factors with other eating disorders with a binge-eating component (i.e., bulimia nervosa and the binge-purge subtype of anorexia nervosa). Read more about the causes of other eating disorders
These conditions also shares risk factors with many other mental health disorders and as many as 80% of people with a binge eating disorder will have another comorbid mental health condition, such as anxiety, depression, OCD or PTSD.
The causes specific to BED are thus far less well understood.
1 Kirkpatrick et al., (2017)
2 Klump et al., (2011)
There are some common signs of binge eating disorder:
It’s common for people who have BED to be overweight and have other physical health complications, such as diabetes, high cholesterol or joint complaints. This can exacerbate feelings of low self-worth and confidence and can result in a vicious cycle of bingeing to help decrease these feelings.
The criteria for binge eating disorder examines how long the person has been experiencing binge episodes and with what frequency.
It is important to note that you do not have to wait for the illness to get severe before you get help. Many people with binge eating disorder do not seek help until they feel completely out of control with the illness, at which point it is much harder to treat.
Everything from the booking of the appointment to the time and efforts the clinician spent with me was fantastic. Keep up the fantastic work!
Jane, London
People with binge eating disorders often keep their illness secret from others and it is common that the condition comes as a complete surprise to friends and families.
Sufferers may feel like they are living double lives, performing competently in professional, familial and social roles while feeling a great sense of shame and emotional turmoil caused by their binge eating. As a result, it can be very difficult to come forward and seek help.
It can take huge courage to seek help for binge eating disorders due to the shame and guilt associated with the condition. While it is very normal to feel this way, help is available and can be hugely effective.
Specialists in eating disorders have a wealth of experience of working with binge eating disorders and are there to help the individual come to terms with and address their illness.
Read more about getting help for eating disorders
Download our Adult Eating Disorder Assessment Guide
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