Binge Eating

Disorder

WIN Weight-control Information Network

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

AND HUMAN SERVICES

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

How do I know if I have binge eating disorder?

Most of us overeat from time to time, and some of us often

feel we have eaten more than we should have. Eating a lot of

food does not necessarily mean that you have binge eating

disorder. Experts generally agree that most people with serious

binge eating problems often eat an unusually large amount of

food and feel their eating is out of control. People with binge

eating disorder also may:

• Eat much more quickly than usual during binge episodes.

• Eat until they are uncomfortably full.

• Eat large amounts of food even when they are not really

hungry.

• Eat alone because they are embarrassed about the amount

of food they eat.

• Feel disgusted, depressed, or guilty after overeating.

Binge eating also occurs in another eating disorder called bulimia

nervosa. Persons with bulimia nervosa, however, usually purge,

fast, or do strenuous exercise after they binge eat. Purging

means vomiting or using a lot of diuretics (water pills) or

laxatives to keep from gaining weight. Fasting is not eating

for at least 24 hours. Strenuous exercise, in this case, means

exercising for more than an hour just to keep from gaining

weight after binge eating. Purging, fasting, and overexercising

are dangerous ways to try to control your weight.

How common is binge eating disorder, and who is at risk?

Binge eating disorder is the most common eating disorder.

It affects about 3 percent of all adults in the United States.

People of any age can have binge eating disorder, but it is

seen more often in adults age 46 to 55. Binge eating disorder

Binge eating

disorder is the

most common

eating disorder.

It affects about

3 percent of all

adults in the

United States.
2

is a little more common in women than in men; three women

for every two men have it. The disorder affects Blacks as

often as Whites, but it is not known how often it affects

people in other ethnic groups.

Although most obese people do not have binge eating

disorder, people with this problem are usually overweight

or obese.∗ Binge eating disorder is more common in people

who are severely obese. Normal-weight people can also

have the disorder.

People who are obese and have binge eating disorder often

became overweight at a younger age than those without the

disorder. They might also lose and gain weight more often,

a process known as weight cycling or “yo-yo dieting.”

What causes binge eating disorder?

No one knows for sure what causes binge eating disorder.

As many as half of all people with binge eating disorder are

depressed or have been depressed in the past. Whether

depression causes binge eating disorder, or whether binge

eating disorder causes depression, is not known.

It is also unclear if dieting and binge eating are related, although

some people binge eat after dieting. In these cases, dieting

means skipping meals, not eating enough food each day, or

avoiding certain kinds of food. These are unhealthy ways to try

to change your body shape and weight.

Studies suggest that people with binge eating disorder may have

trouble handling some of their emotions. Many people who are

binge eaters say that being angry, sad, bored, worried, or

stressed can cause them to binge eat.

Certain behaviors and emotional problems are more common

in people with binge eating disorder. These include abusing

alcohol, acting quickly without thinking (impulsive behavior),

not feeling in charge of themselves, not feeling a part of their

communities, and not noticing and talking about their feelings.

Researchers are looking into how brain chemicals and metabolism

(the way the body uses calories) affect binge eating disorder.

Other research suggests that genes may be involved in binge

eating, since the disorder often occurs in several members of

the same family. This research is still in the early stages.

Researchers are

looking into

how brain

chemicals and

metabolism (the

way the body

uses calories)

affect binge

eating disorder.

* The Clinical Guidelines on the

Identification, Evaluation, and

Treatment of Overweight and

Obesity in Adults, published in

1998 by the National Heart,

Lung, and Blood Institute,

define overweight as a body

mass index (BMI) of 25 to 29.9

and obesity as a BMI of 30 or

more. BMI is calculated by

dividing weight (in kilograms)

by height (in meters) squared.
3

What are the complications of

binge eating disorder?

People with binge eating disorder are usually

very upset by their binge eating and may

become depressed. Research has shown that

people with binge eating disorder report more

health problems, stress, trouble sleeping, and

suicidal thoughts than do people without an

eating disorder. Other complications from

binge eating disorder could include joint pain,

digestive problems, headache, muscle pain,

and menstrual problems.

People with binge eating disorder often feel

bad about themselves and may miss work,

school, or social activities to binge eat.

People with binge eating disorder may gain

weight. Weight gain can lead to obesity, and

obesity puts people at risk for many health

problems, including:

• type 2 diabetes

• high blood pressure

• high blood cholesterol levels

• gallbladder disease

• heart disease

• certain types of cancer

Most people who binge eat, whether they are

obese or not, feel ashamed and try to hide their

problem. Often they become so good at hiding

it that even close friends and family members

do not know that their loved one binge eats.

Should people with binge eating

disorder try to lose weight?

Many people with binge eating disorder are

obese and have health problems because of their

weight. They should try to lose weight and keep

it off; however, research shows that long-term

weight loss is more likely when a person has

long-term control over his or her binge eating.

People with binge eating disorder who

are obese may benefit from a weight-loss

program that also offers treatment for eating

disorders. However, some people with binge

eating disorder may do just as well in a

standard weight-loss program as people

who do not binge eat.

People who are not overweight should avoid

trying to lose weight because it may make

their binge eating worse.

How can people with binge eating

disorder be helped?

People with binge eating disorder should get

help from a health care professional such as

a psychiatrist, psychologist, or clinical social

worker. There are several different ways to

treat binge eating disorder.

• Cognitive behavioral therapy teaches people

how to keep track of their eating and change

their unhealthy eating habits. It teaches them

how to change the way they act in tough

situations. It also helps them feel better about

their body shape and weight.

• Interpersonal psychotherapy helps people

look at their relationships with friends and

family and make changes in problem areas.

• Drug therapy, such as antidepressants,

may be helpful for some people.

The methods mentioned here seem to be equally

helpful. Researchers are still trying to find the

treatment that is the most helpful in controlling

binge eating disorder. Combining drug and

behavioral therapy has shown promising results

for treating overweight and obese individuals

with binge eating disorder. Drug therapy has

been shown to benefit weight management and

promote weight loss, while behavioral therapy

has been shown to improve the psychological

components of binge eating.
4

Other therapies being tried include dialectical behavior therapy,

which helps people regulate their emotions; drug therapy with

the anti-seizure medication topiramate; weight-loss surgery

(bariatric surgery); exercise used alone or in combination with

cognitive behavioral therapy; and self-help. Self-help books,

videos, and groups have helped some people control their

binge eating.

You are not alone.

If you think you might have binge eating disorder, it is

important to know that you are not alone. Most people who

have the disorder have tried but failed to control it on their

own. You may want to get professional help. Talk to your

health care provider about the type of help that may be

best for you. The good news is that most people do well in

treatment and can overcome binge eating.

For More Information*

National Eating Disorders Association

Information and Referral Program

603 Stewart Street, Suite 803

Seattle, WA 98101

Toll-free: 1–800–931–2237

Phone: (206) 382–3587

Fax: (206) 829–8501

Email: info@nationaleatingdisorders.org

Internet: http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org

Academy for Eating Disorders

111 Deer Lake Road, Suite 100

Deerfield, IL 60015

Phone: (847) 498–4274

Fax: (847) 480–9282

Email: info@aedweb.org

Internet: http://www.aedweb.org

For more information about treatment, contact one of the

centers listed on page 5.

continued on page 6

People with

binge eating

disorder should

get help from a

health professional

such as a

psychiatrist,

psychologist, or

clinical social

worker.
5

The following programs are for

patients with binge eating disorder

or compulsive overeating.

Center for Overcoming Problem Eating (COPE)

Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

•••••• •••• 3811 O’Hara Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15213

(412) 647–9329

Eating Disorders Clinic

New York Psychiatric Institute

Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center

1051 Riverside Drive, NYSPI Unit 98 ••• • • ••

New York, NY 10032

(212) 543–5151

EDRU@pi.cpmc.columbia.edu

Eating Disorder Program at the

University of Chicago Hospitals

Department of Psychiatry, MC 3077

The University of Chicago ••• •••••••

5841 S. Maryland Avenue

Chicago, IL 60637

(773) 834–5677

Rutgers Eating Disorders Clinic

GSAPP Rutgers University

41 Gordon Road • • • • •

Piscataway, NJ 08854

(732) 445–2292

Eating Disorder Program

Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong

610 Elmwood Avenue, Box 690 • • • • • • • • • • •

Rochester, NY 14642

(585) 275–2964

Center for Brief Therapy

Department of Clinical Psychology

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

4190 City Avenue, Rowland Hall, Suite 530

• • • • • • • •

Philadelphia, PA 19131

(215) 871–6487

Eating Disorders Program

Menninger Clinic

2801 Gessner Drive • • • • • • • •

Houston, TX 77080

1–800–351–9058

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Program Type Treatment Used Patients Treated
6

Additional Reading

Binge-eating Disorder, a thorough article on binge eating

disorder that describes the signs and symptoms, but also

possible causes, risk factors, and methods of treatment and

prevention. Published by Mayo Clinic. Available at:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/binge-eatingdisorder/DS00608.

Eating Disorders, published by the National Institute of

Mental Health, outlines the three most common eating

disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge

eating disorder) with information about symptoms and

treatment. Available at:

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/eatingdisorders/summary.shtml.

Williams PM, Goodie J, Motsinger CD. Treating eating disorders

in primary care. American Family Physician. 2008;77(2):187–95.

This article, written for health professionals, reviews the

literature on binge eating disorder with a particular focus on

its assessment and treatment. Information regarding diagnostic

criteria and key implications for practice are provided.

Bulik CM, Brownley KA, Shapiro JR. Diagnosis and

management of binge eating disorder. World Psychiatry.

2007;6(3):142–8. This article addresses current issues regarding

the diagnosis and management of binge eating disorder.

Wilfley DE, Wilson GT, Agras WS. The clinical significance

of binge eating disorder. International Journal of Eating

Disorders. 2003;Vol. 34 Suppl:S96–106. This article, written

for health professionals, reviews the literature on binge

eating disorder to examine whether it is serious enough to

be classified clinically as a mental health disorder.

*Inclusion of organizations and materials is for information

only and does not imply endorsement by NIDDK or WIN.

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President, Neuropsychiatric

Research Institute, and Professor

and Chair, Department of

Neuroscience, University of North

Dakota, School of Medicine and

Health Sciences.

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NIH Publication No. 04–3589

June 2008