Binge eating disorder (BED) is a type of eating disorder characterised by recurrent episodes of consuming large amounts of food quickly until the person is uncomfortably full. The difference between bulimia and BED is that people who have BED often do not exhibit unhealthy compensatory behaviour (purging) after a binge episode. The DSM-5, a guide for clinicians to diagnose mental health conditions, recently acknowledged BED as a recognised disorder. Although it is one of the newest eating disorders formally recognised in the DSM-5, it is already the most common eating disorder.
To be diagnosed with binge eating disorder based on the DSM-5, the following criteria must be met:
Recurrent episodes of binge eating. An episode of binge eating is characterised by both the following:
Eating, in a discrete period of time (e.g., within any 2-hour period), an amount of food that is definitely larger than most people would eat in a similar period of time under similar circumstances
A lack of control over eating during the episode (e.g., a feeling that one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating)
Binge-eating episodes are associated with three (or more) of the following:
Eating more rapidly than usual
Eating until uncomfortably full
Eating large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry
Eating alone because of embarrassment about how much one is eating
Feeling depressed, guilty, or disgusted with oneself after overeating
Distress regarding binge eating is present.
The binge eating occurs, on average, at least once a week for 3 months.
Binge eating is not associated with the regular use of inappropriate compensatory behaviour (e.g., purging, fasting, excessive exercise). It does not occur exclusively during anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa.
However, even if one does not meet all of the DSM-5 criteria, they may still have a serious mental disorder.
Furthermore, it may be difficult to spot symptoms in others as they may hide them. So here are some warning signs that one might have bulimia:
Evidence of binge eating; the disappearance of large amounts of food in a short period, or large amounts of empty wrappers and containers
Appearing uncomfortable when eating around others
Steals or hoards large amounts of food in unusual places
Feelings of depression, disgust, or guilt after overeating
Noticeable fluctuations in weight
Recurrent cycles of bingeing put extreme pressure on the entire digestive system. BED isn’t as widely recognised as anorexia and bulimia, and individuals with BED tend to have normal or higher-than-average weight, so it often goes unnoticed.
It can take time, but one can fully recover from BED. The process would be different for every patient, so it is important to get the help of health professionals for treatment. Oftentimes, patients would receive either guided self-help programs or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). If you think that you or someone you know may have a binge eating disorder, don’t be afraid to ask for help. The day you take action is the day your recovery journey starts.
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