Do I have Binge Eating Disorder?
Everyone’s experience of an eating disorder is unique; they aren’t a lifestyle choice, or a way to get attention.
Over one million Australians are currently experiencing an eating disorder, and less than a third are getting treatment or support.
Case Study: Maddie had two children under the age of 8 and was a single parent. She had a lot of stresses including financial concerns, navigating shared parenting with her ex partner and a strained relationship with her parents. Maddie attended her first appointment with her psychologist as she was concerned about her eating habits. Maddie told her psychologist she would often eat very little during the day and then eat large amounts of processed food in the afternoon before school pick up. Maddie stated the episodes occurred 2-3 times a week and were starting to take over her life. She was exhausted, worried and often had painful heart burn. She also felt like she was keeping a terrible secret that could not be resolved.
Maddie worked with her psychologist to map out her eating habits. She identified her triggers and the thoughts and emotions connected to these. With this helpful information, Maddie began to understand why she had been using binge eating to cope. Eventually they were able to reduce some of Maddie’s triggers and also find new ways of coping that gave Maddie more control over her life.
What are the key facts about binge eating disorder?
Binge eating disorder is when a person repeatedly eats very large quantities of food in a short time
Binge-eating disorder can impact the person mentally and physically
There are treatments to help manage and overcome binge-eating disorder including psychological support
What is binge-eating disorder?
Binge-eating disorder (BED) is a type of eating disorder.
Binge eating is different from over-eating. Overeating is something that most people do sometimes, such as in social settings. People with binge-eating disorder repeatedly act on an urge to eat large quantities of food in a short period of time, often in private. The foods most often eaten are highly processed foods such as breads, biscuits, chips and sweets. Binges are often twice the amount (or more) of food you would normally eat in one sitting.
What causes binge-eating disorder?
There are many possible causes of binge-eating disorder. Like other mental health conditions, binge-eating disorder can arise from trauma. Some people have no obvious reason for having binge-eating disorder.
Some things may place you at higher risk of developing a binge-eating disorder, such as:
other mental health or developmental diagnoses such as autism spectrum disorder
drug or alcohol use
dieting or food insecurity
unmet social, spiritual, emotional or physical needs
a family history of eating disorders
What are the symptoms of binge-eating disorder?
People with binge-eating disorder might feel:
out of control when they eat
the need to hoard food
They may eat:
large amounts of food in a short period of time, often sweet and savoury
Rapidly
in secret
when they are not hungry
until after they feel full
as a way to cope with emotional distress
They might binge eat once or more each week, over a few months. This might evolve to become more frequent, e.g. daily. People with binge-eating disorder are distressed by their eating behaviour and may feel ashamed and guilty after an eating binge episode. They might feel embarrassed by their actions.
People with binge-eating disorder can also experience physical symptoms, such as:
bloating and other gut issues
difficulty concentrating
Headaches
sleep disturbance
Binge-eating disorder is similar to bulimia nervosa. People with these disorders are often concerned about body image and consume large amounts of food. However, people with binge-eating disorder do not use extreme weight loss measures every time they binge, such as forced vomiting, laxatives and excessive exercise. As a result, their weight may fluctuate, or they might be overweight.
When should I see a doctor?
If you think you have binge-eating disorder, it is important to see a doctor. They can refer you to a specialist in eating disorders such as a psychologist, psychiatrist or dietician.
Stigma around mental health and body image can make it difficult to seek help. Remember that you are not alone — binge-eating disorder makes up almost half of all eating disorder cases in Australia.
How is binge-eating disorder diagnosed?
To diagnose binge-eating disorder, your doctor or psychologist will:
do a mental health assessment
ask about your patterns of eating
ask about your thoughts, feelings and behaviours associated with eating
How is binge-eating disorder treated?
The best treatment for binge-eating disorder is psychological therapy and dietary guidance.
Psychological therapy such as cognitive behavioural therapy aims to:
address the underlying cause of your binge-eating disorder
help you to manage and overcome your binge-eating disorder
Dietary therapy aims to help you build a healthy, regular eating pattern by:
reducing your binge eating
challenging your food beliefs
developing your confidence in eating
Exercise and managing stress are also both important in your recovery. You can also talk to your doctor about medication options that may benefit you.
Resources and support
If you, or someone you know, thinks they might have binge-eating disorder, contact the following organisations for support, information and counselling:
Butterfly Foundation — call 1800 33 4673
You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.