Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionDiagnosisStatisticsSymptomsRisk FactorsComplicationsFAQ

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Definition

Diagnosis

Statistics

Symptoms

Risk Factors

Complications

FAQ

Binge eating disorder (BED) is a type ofeating disorder. A person who has a binge eating disorder will eat large amounts of food in a short period of time and feel out of control while doing so and often ashamed after bingeing.

Health risks of BED include damage to the gastrointestinal system and obesity; it is also associated with mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression.

This article will discuss the symptoms, risk factors, and complications of binge eating disorder.

Verywell / Theresa Chiechi

Sings of Binge Eating Disorder: Stomach with a lightning bolt (Eating until uncomfortably full), A cheeseburger with an equal sign and a happy face (eating to ease stress and anxiety), feet on a scale and a line with peaks (recording weight fluctuation), food and an hour glass (consuming excessive amounts of food in short periods of time), a person looking sad on a scale (feeling desperate to control eating and lose weight), a person with hands on their face (self-disgust, guilt, and depression after binge eating)

What Is Binge Eating Disorder?

Binge eating disorder is a severe but treatable condition that involves recurrent episodes of consuming large quantities of food.

Episodes of overeating that are classified as binge eating can significantly and negatively impact your health and well-being. This makes it especially important to identify the signs and symptoms of binge eating and get help if necessary.

Diagnosing Binge Eating Disorder

According to the DSM-5, a person must binge at least once a week for three months before being a candidate for a formal diagnosis of BED.

Other DSM-5 criteria for BED include:

In addition to distress and loss of control, a person must have three or more of the following symptoms to be diagnosed with BED:

BED is considered the most common type of eating disorder in the United States. In fact, according to the National Eating Disorders Association, BED is over three times more prevalent than anorexia and bulimia (combined).

One study found that 3.5% of females and 2% of males had binge eating disorder in their lifetime.

Although the majority of people diagnosed with obesity are not considered binge eaters, up to two-thirds of those with BED are obese.

Eating Disorder Facts and Statistics: What You Need to Know

There are several common signs and symptoms of a BED. A person with this type of disorder often:

Emotional Symptoms

Specific emotions linked with BED include:

It is thought that several combined factors can increase the risk of having BED.

These include:

Environmental Risk Factors

According to the National Eating Disorders Association, environmental factors that may increase the risk of binge eating include:

Although BED often impacts younger females and teens, it can occur at any age and also occurs in males.

Genetic Factors

Because people with a close family member with BED tend to have a higher risk of an eating disorder, genetic factors are believed to be involved in the condition. Statistically, eating disorders do tend to have a familial link, with females more frequently than males.

Emotional and Psychological Factors

Several predisposing emotional and psychological factors exist for eating disorders, and in the instance of anorexia and bulimia, the research is quite clear. Emotional and psychological factors have not been as extensively researched in BED. Still, there are some clues as to common personality factors that may predispose a person to binge eating.

Other factors and emotions commonly linked with BED include:

Biological Factors

Biological factors that may increase the risk of BED include:

Note that low serotonin levels are also linked with depression. According to a 2017 study, some people with BED respond well to medications that affect the function of serotonin in the body.

Behavioral Risks

Several behavioral risks may factor into predisposing a person to the development of BED.

Many complications may arise from BED.

Examples include:

Effects on Bodily Systems

In addition to specific disorders, BED may impact the function of various systems in the body. People with eating disorders (including BED) may have:

Summary

Genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors can increase the risk of developing BED, and the disorder can cause serious health complications in some cases.

Frequently Asked QuestionsPeople who occasionally overeat do not usually experience the specific signs and symptoms of binge eating outlined in the DSM-5. Overeating occasionally is not a sign of BED.People with BED have high rates ofanxiety disorders, mood disorders, and substance use disorders. These are called comorbidities.

Frequently Asked Questions

People who occasionally overeat do not usually experience the specific signs and symptoms of binge eating outlined in the DSM-5. Overeating occasionally is not a sign of BED.

People with BED have high rates ofanxiety disorders, mood disorders, and substance use disorders. These are called comorbidities.

12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Eating Disorders Association.Binge eating disorder.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Binge eating disorder.National Institute of Diabetes Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for binge eating disorder.National Institute of Diabetes Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms and causes of binge eating disorder.Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.Management and outcomes of binge eating disorder (BED).National Eating Disorders Association.Statistics.Dingemans A, Danner U, Parks M.Emotion regulation in binge eating disorder: A review.Nutrients. 2017;9(11):1274. doi:10.3390/nu9111274Himmerich H, Bentley J, Kan C, Treasure J.Genetic risk factors for eating disorders: An update and insights into pathophysiology.Ther Adv Psychopharmacol. 2019;9:204512531881473. doi:10.1177/2045125318814734Culbert KM, Racine SE, Klump KL.Hormonal factors and disturbances in eating disorders.Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2016;18(7):65. doi:10.1007/s11920-016-0701-6Olguin P, Fuentes M, Gabler G, Guerdjikova AI, Keck PE, McElroy SL.Medical comorbidity of binge eating disorder.Eat Weight Disord. 2017;22(1):13-26. doi:10.1007/s40519-016-0313-5National Eating Disorders Association.Risk factors.National Eating Disorders Association.Health consequences.

12 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Eating Disorders Association.Binge eating disorder.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Binge eating disorder.National Institute of Diabetes Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for binge eating disorder.National Institute of Diabetes Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms and causes of binge eating disorder.Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.Management and outcomes of binge eating disorder (BED).National Eating Disorders Association.Statistics.Dingemans A, Danner U, Parks M.Emotion regulation in binge eating disorder: A review.Nutrients. 2017;9(11):1274. doi:10.3390/nu9111274Himmerich H, Bentley J, Kan C, Treasure J.Genetic risk factors for eating disorders: An update and insights into pathophysiology.Ther Adv Psychopharmacol. 2019;9:204512531881473. doi:10.1177/2045125318814734Culbert KM, Racine SE, Klump KL.Hormonal factors and disturbances in eating disorders.Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2016;18(7):65. doi:10.1007/s11920-016-0701-6Olguin P, Fuentes M, Gabler G, Guerdjikova AI, Keck PE, McElroy SL.Medical comorbidity of binge eating disorder.Eat Weight Disord. 2017;22(1):13-26. doi:10.1007/s40519-016-0313-5National Eating Disorders Association.Risk factors.National Eating Disorders Association.Health consequences.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

National Eating Disorders Association.Binge eating disorder.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Binge eating disorder.National Institute of Diabetes Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for binge eating disorder.National Institute of Diabetes Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms and causes of binge eating disorder.Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.Management and outcomes of binge eating disorder (BED).National Eating Disorders Association.Statistics.Dingemans A, Danner U, Parks M.Emotion regulation in binge eating disorder: A review.Nutrients. 2017;9(11):1274. doi:10.3390/nu9111274Himmerich H, Bentley J, Kan C, Treasure J.Genetic risk factors for eating disorders: An update and insights into pathophysiology.Ther Adv Psychopharmacol. 2019;9:204512531881473. doi:10.1177/2045125318814734Culbert KM, Racine SE, Klump KL.Hormonal factors and disturbances in eating disorders.Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2016;18(7):65. doi:10.1007/s11920-016-0701-6Olguin P, Fuentes M, Gabler G, Guerdjikova AI, Keck PE, McElroy SL.Medical comorbidity of binge eating disorder.Eat Weight Disord. 2017;22(1):13-26. doi:10.1007/s40519-016-0313-5National Eating Disorders Association.Risk factors.National Eating Disorders Association.Health consequences.

National Eating Disorders Association.Binge eating disorder.

Johns Hopkins Medicine.Binge eating disorder.

National Institute of Diabetes Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for binge eating disorder.

National Institute of Diabetes Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms and causes of binge eating disorder.

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.Management and outcomes of binge eating disorder (BED).

National Eating Disorders Association.Statistics.

Dingemans A, Danner U, Parks M.Emotion regulation in binge eating disorder: A review.Nutrients. 2017;9(11):1274. doi:10.3390/nu9111274

Himmerich H, Bentley J, Kan C, Treasure J.Genetic risk factors for eating disorders: An update and insights into pathophysiology.Ther Adv Psychopharmacol. 2019;9:204512531881473. doi:10.1177/2045125318814734

Culbert KM, Racine SE, Klump KL.Hormonal factors and disturbances in eating disorders.Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2016;18(7):65. doi:10.1007/s11920-016-0701-6

Olguin P, Fuentes M, Gabler G, Guerdjikova AI, Keck PE, McElroy SL.Medical comorbidity of binge eating disorder.Eat Weight Disord. 2017;22(1):13-26. doi:10.1007/s40519-016-0313-5

National Eating Disorders Association.Risk factors.

National Eating Disorders Association.Health consequences.

Meet Our Medical Expert Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

What is your feedback?