Binge Eating Disorder: What Are the Signs?

Overcoming an addiction of any kind is challenging, but it is particularly difficult to move on with your life when an addictive behavior or substance is an inevitable or necessary part of it.  Because we cannot live without food, people who struggle with food-related addictive behaviors face a continuous battle of maintaining healthy attitudes toward food, eating, and their bodies (Read 10 Ways to Improve Your Body Image).  If you suspect that someone you know is currently afflicted with an eating disorder, this article will discuss the signs and potential consequences of binge eating disorder.

What is binge eating disorder?

As reported by the National Institute of Mental Health, as much as 2.8% of the American population has had or currently has binge eating disorder.  Other agencies place this estimate at 1% to 5%. This condition is characterized by episodes of binging – or consuming excessive amounts of food quickly.  Binge eating disorder (BED) is different from bulimia in that patients will not attempt to compensate – with exercise, calorie restriction, laxatives, or other methods – after binging (Read Bulimia: What Are the Signs?).  Like other eating disorders, however, patients with binge eating disorder may experience negative emotions of guilt and shame after binging (Read Anorexia: What Are the Signs?). People who have this disorder may be of normal weight, overweight, or even obese (Read Obesity: America’s Biggest Problem).

What are signs of or risk factors for this condition?

• Being female: Although estimates indicate that the sex breakdown for bulimia is 60% women and 40% men, there is still a high rate of males with this disorder, especially compared to anorexia and bulimia (Read Eating Disorders: Not Just a Female Problem).
• Binging: You may observe the person consume significant amounts of food in a short time period or you may see evidence that a binge has occurred including numerous empty food containers in the trash, much food gone from the refrigerator or freezer, or an unusual number of kitchen utensils used for food preparation.
• Negative image of one’s body: Having poor self-esteem and disliking one’s body are common among individuals with any eating disorder.
• Secret eating: Eating a second dinner after the family has eaten and trying to hide it – as well as having clandestine stashes of food may signal a person with BED.
• Feelings of disgust, distress, and/or shame: The person may be aware that they have a problem with how they consume food, and they may feel guilty or angry with themselves, especially after a binge.
• Depression: A person with BED may have depression or symptoms similar to those of depression.

What long-term consequences could result if left untreated?

Because it is characterized by consumption of a large number of extraneous calories, binge eating disorder can easily develop into overweight or obesity.  As a result, untreated BED can result in type II diabetes, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, hypertension, heart disease, heart attack, stroke, some cancers, and high cholesterol.  There can also be social and psychological consequences like social isolation if a person who binges gains so much weight that they feel uncomfortable in the presence of others.