A mental health concern that is not talked about enough is the realm of eating disorders. Much like suicide, eating disorders make others uncomfortable. When someone mentions they’re depressed, most people can relate to some extent and can sympathize. It’s easier to be there for someone with depression or anxiety. But when someone discloses an eating disorder, that’s difficult for people who have never experienced that to feel comfortable knowing what to say.
This post will be part of a series discussing eating disorders.
What is Binge Eating Disorder (BED)?
Binge eating disorder is an eating disorder that is characterized by episodes of uncontrolled eating. These are called binges and when an individual binges, they eat much more food in a small period of time than they would normally. What differentiates this from bulimia is that there is no compensatory behavior engaged in. This means that the person does not do anything to try and compensate for the extra calories that have been consumed during the binge. This can often result in weight gain, but does not always.
Often, someone experiences a lot of guilt and shame around their binges.
What Causes BED?
Binge eating disorder is most frequently associated with stress, guilt, shame, and a history of abuse. While these are not “causes” of any mental disorder or illness, they have been seen frequently in individuals with this particular eating disorder. It’s often theorized that those with binge eating disorder have a difficult time with emotional regulation around moments of distress, which leads to the binge. However, there is no known universal cause for BED, much like other eating disorders.
What are the Symptoms of BED?
One common and more noticeable symptom of BED is rapid weight gain. While rapid weight gain can be related to any number of things, such as injury or disability, it can be caused by binge eating. Guilt and shame are important aspects of BED, as binge eating disorder must be accompanied by these feelings in order to qualify for a diagnosis.
Things that may not be as noticeable or could be easy to miss could be large amounts of empty food packaging in someone’s room or car. This is because binges are frequently done in secret. The individual will often try to hide the packaging or dispose of it before someone else can find them. Sometimes, it’ll be the disappearance of large amounts of food that cannot be accounted for. For example, a large dish of leftovers may suddenly be gone, along with other items in the fridge. This is usually due to a binge.
How is Binge Eating Disorder Treated?
BED is primarily treated through the use of therapy, most often CBT. DBT has also begun to see popularity in the treatment of various eating disorders. Some medications have been used off-label for binge eating disorder. For example, Vyvanse has started to be prescribed for those struggling with BED.
