BED is the most common eating disorder, with 3-5% of people meeting the diagnostic criteria. People at any weight can have BED, but it is 2-4 times more common among those who have a higher body weight. BED is much more common among girls than boys (3:1 ratio).
People with BED experience repeated and persistent instances of binge eating, or bingeing. A binge eating, in a given period of time (e.g., within any 2-hour period), an amount of food that is much larger than most people would eat during a similar period of time and under similar circumstances while also feeling as though they cannot stop eating, sort of like a ball rolling down a hill that just can’t stop.
Signs of Binge Eating Disorder
- Eat much more rapidly than normal
- Eat until feeling uncomfortably full
- Eat large amounts of food when not physically hungry
- Eat alone due to embarrassment of how much one is eating
- Feel disgusted, depressed, or guilty after overeating
References
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- National Easting Disorders Association, 2013, Binge Eating Disorder Fact Sheet.
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- US Department of Health and Human Services, 2009, Binge Eating Disorder FAQ