Binge eating disorder (BED)
Binge eating disorder (BED)
Overview
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Binge eating disorder (BED) is a serious eating disorder. Someone with BED will regularly eat very large quantities of food over a short period of time without feeling like they’re in control of what they’re eating. This eating behaviour causes feelings of distress and guilt and being overwhelmed.
If you’re binge eating and then making yourself sick on a regular basis, this is more likely to be bulimia nervosa.
BED can affect anyone of any age, gender, ethnicity or age.
Binge eating disorder is more common than other eating disorders. In the UK around 1 in 25 people experience symptoms of binge eating disorder.
There’s no one way for someone with binge eating disorder to look.
What is bingeing?
Signs that an episode of overeating is a binge, include:
- eating much faster than normal
- eating until you feel uncomfortably full
- regularly eating a large amount of food when you’re not hungry
- eating alone or secretly due to being embarrassed or ashamed about the amount of food you’re consuming
- having feelings of guilt, shame or disgust during or after a binge
Common Symptoms
⚠️ This symptom list is for educational purposes. Having these symptoms does not mean you have this condition. See a doctor for proper diagnosis.
Medicines Commonly Used
⚠️ These medicines are commonly used for confirmed diagnoses of this condition. This is NOT a recommendation or prescription. Treatment must be determined by your doctor.
No medicines have been linked to this condition yet.
Treatment
Treatment for BED is available, and it doesn't focus directly on losing weight. Instead, it works on the relationships, feelings and thoughts that lead someone into a difficult relationship with food.
Guided self-help
With guided self-help, you work through information and activities on your own, while also meeting regularly with a professional for support.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
CBT is another option, offered either one-on-one or in a group setting. It's based on the idea that thoughts, feelings and behaviour are all linked and influence one another.
If things going on in your life are pushing you toward binge eating, CBT can help reduce how often you binge. It works by helping you identify the underlying issues so bingeing becomes less likely in the future. The focus stays on what's keeping the eating disorder going, rather than on dieting or weight loss.
Learn more about talking therapies
Interpersonal psychotherapy
This approach looks at the connection between your relationships, feelings and eating behaviours.
Family based treatment
Children and young people may be offered Family Based Treatment (FBT), which brings the whole family into resolving the child's or young person's eating disorder. Parents and carers play an essential role here, acting as full members of the treatment team rather than bystanders.
Medication
Medication isn't recommended as a treatment for BED itself, but it may be prescribed for other health conditions you happen to have alongside it.
For more on treating eating disorders, you can refer to the eating disorders SIGN guideline.
Complications
Long term physical effects of binge eating
Binge eating often leads to weight gain. Being overweight or obese can put you at risk of a number of physical health problems, some of which can be life threatening.
These include:
- high cholesterol
- high blood pressure
- diabetes
- osteoarthritis
- some types of cancer
If you think you might have a binge eating problem, help is available. You can get support to tackle both the physical and mental effects of binge eating.
Getting help for binge eating disorder
If you have eating problems or think you may have an eating disorder, it’s important to seek help as soon as possible.
You could:
- talk to someone you trust, like a friend or member of your family
- see your GP – you may find it helpful to bring someone with you for support
- contact an anonymous helpline like Beat’s helpline
Helping someone else
If someone close to you is showing signs of an eating disorder, you can offer help and support.
You could try talking to them about how they feel and listening to what they say without judgement. You can encourage them to think about getting help. Try not to put pressure on them or be critical of them, as this could make things worse. You could also offer to help by going with the person to see their GP.
Your GP or a healthcare professional can give you advice on how to help someone. This includes giving you information on:
- the treatments available
- how you can support them during their treatment
- helping you understand BED
Read more about how you can support someone with an eating disorder
Further support
Find information and services that can offer advice and support about eating disorders
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