Do I Have a Binge Eating Disorder?

Binge eating disorder (BED) is a severe, life-threatening, and treatable eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food (often very quickly and to the point of discomfort); a feeling of a loss of control during the binge; experiencing shame, distress or guilt afterwards; and not regularly using unhealthy compensatory measures (e.g., purging) to counter the binge eating. Binge Eating Disorder is the most common eating disorder in the United States.

You cannot tell if someone has binge eating disorder by looking at them. Binge eating disorder impacts people in all body sizes. People can be in very small bodies and still meet the diagnostic criteria for binge eating disorder.

WARNING SIGNS & SYMPTOMS OF BINGE EATING DISORDER

Emotional and behavioral 

• Evidence of binge eating, including disappearance of large amounts of food in short periods of time or lots of empty wrappers and containers indicating consumption of large amounts of food.

• Appears uncomfortable eating around others

• Any new practice with food or fad diets, including cutting out entire food groups (no sugar, no carbs, no dairy, vegetarianism/veganism)

• Fear of eating in public or with others

• Steals or hoards food in strange places

• Creates lifestyle schedules or rituals to make time for binge sessions

• Withdraws from usual friends and activities

• Frequently diets

• Shows extreme concern with body weight and shape

• Frequent checking in the mirror for perceived flaws in appearance

• Has secret recurring episodes of binge eating (eating in a discrete period of time an amount of food that is much larger than most individuals would eat under similar circumstances); feels lack of control over ability to stop eating

• Disruption in normal eating behaviors, including eating throughout the day with no planned mealtimes; skipping meals or taking small portions of food at regular meals; engaging in sporadic fasting or repetitive dieting

• Developing food rituals (e.g., eating only a particular food or food group [e.g., condiments], excessive chewing, and not allowing foods to touch).

• Eating alone out of embarrassment at the quantity of food being eaten

• Feelings of disgust, depression, or guilt after overeating

• Fluctuations in weight

• Feelings of low self-esteem

Physical 

• Noticeable fluctuations in weight, both up and down

• Stomach cramps, other non-specific gastrointestinal complaints (constipation, acid reflux, etc.)

• Difficulties concentrating

If you feel you’re struggling with Binge Eating Disorder or have recently been diagnosed, schedule a call with one of our dietitians here.