What is Binge Eating Disorder?

Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is the most common eating disorder in the United States, impacting 3.5% of women, 2% of men, and 1.6% of adolescents- making it more prevalent than anorexia and bulimia combined. BED often goes undiagnosed or misunderstood.

Let’s break down what Binge Eating Disorder really is, the impact of restriction, and steps toward recovery.

What is Binge Eating Disorder?

Binge Eating Disorder involves recurring episodes of eating large quantities of food quickly, feeling out of control, and then experiencing distress or guilt afterward. People with BED may feel a strong compulsion to binge, even without physical hunger, often eating until uncomfortably full.

Symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder

• Eating large quantities quickly and feeling a lack of control

• Eating alone to avoid embarrassment or fear of judgment

• Feeling guilt, shame, or distress after eating

• Occurrences of binge episodes at least once weekly

Binge Eating Disorder affects people across the weight spectrum, and it’s crucial to know that this disorder is not about a lack of willpower but rather a complex response to physical and emotional triggers.

How Scarcity and Restriction Trigger Binge Eating

Binge eating disorder is a restrictive eating disorder! Research has shown that restricting food, either by dieting or by labeling foods as "off-limits," can create a scarcity mindset. This scarcity triggers the brain to prioritize eating when food becomes available, leading to binge episodes. Studies indicate that restricting food can increase cravings and decrease satiety cues, setting the stage for the binge-restrict cycle.

Binge Eating Disorder Statistics

Only 43.6% of people with BED seek treatment- though help can be life-changing. With treatment like nutrition counseling and therapy, individuals can reduce binge episodes, reshape their relationship with food, and address underlying triggers

How Do You Treat Binge Eating Disorder?

Embrace Nutrition takes a compassionate, non-judgmental approach to treating Binge Eating Disorder, focusing on addressing the root causes of binge eating rather than just the symptoms. Together, we work to dismantle restrictive food rules, reframe the scarcity mindset around eating, and develop coping skills to support triggers that can lead to binge eating. Through personalized nutrition counseling, we help clients reconnect with their body's natural hunger and fullness cues, explore emotional triggers, and cultivate a healthier, more balanced relationship with food. My goal is to empower individuals to break free from the binge-restrict cycle and find long-term healing.

Getting Support in Eating Disorder Recovery near Washingon, DC

Embrace Nutrition Counseling is a specialized eating disorder nutrition practice, right across the bridge from Washington DC. Emilee Young, RDN, LD works with clients to address Binge Eating Disorder through compassionate support, helping people move beyond the cycle of scarcity and binge eating. If you’re ready to explore recovery, reach out to take your first steps toward a healthy relationship with food.

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Sources:

1. National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA)

2. American Psychiatric Association, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

3. "Dieting and Restriction as Predictors of Binge Eating in Eating Disorders" - Journal of Clinical Psychology

4. "Treatment Seeking in Binge Eating Disorder: Statistics and Barriers" - American Journal of Psychiatry