Binge Eating Disorder (BED)
Binge eating disorder (BED) is a type of eating disorder not otherwise specified and is characterized by recurrent binge eating without the regular use of compensatory measures to counter the binge eating.
- The prevalence of BED is estimated to be approximately 1-5% of the general population
- BED affects women slightly more often than men, and estimates indicate that about 60% of people struggling with BED are female, while 40% are male
- People who struggle with BED can be of normal or heavier than average weight
- BED is often associated with symptoms of depression
- People struggling with BED often express distress, shame, and guilt over their eating behaviors
Symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder (BED)
Signs and symptoms of BED include:
- Frequent episodes of eating large quantities of food in short periods of time
- Feeling out of control over their eating behavior during the episode
- Feeling depressed, guilty, or disgusted by the behavior
- Other behavioral indicators of BED include eating when not hungry, eating alone because of embarrassment over quantities consumed, and eating until uncomfortably full
Health Consequences of Binge Eating Disorder (BED)
BED can lead to dire health consequences if left untreated, including:
- Type 2 Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Insomnia or sleep apnea
- High cholesterol levels
- Heart disease
- Gallbladder disease
- Muscle and/or joint pain
- Pancreatitis
How We Treat
Our evidence-based clinical treatment modalities for treating anorexia include the following: