10 Science-Based Ways to Treat B.E.D. (Binge Eating Disorder)

Co-authored by Amy Chow and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: July 8, 2022 References

Binge Eating Disorder (BED) can leave you feeling overwhelmed, guilty, and out of control. If you’re suffering from BED, you have nothing to be ashamed of, and you’re definitely not alone. We’ve outlined some common facts and treatment options to help you on your path toward recovery.

Question 1 of 8:

Background

1
BED is a pattern of eating a lot of food at once, even when you’re full. When you’re suffering from BED, you tend to eat really large helpings of food on a frequent basis, and don’t feel like you can stop.^{[1]
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Trustworthy Source
US Office on Women's Health
U.S. government agency providing resources for women's health
Go to source} Anyone can develop BED—it isn’t specific to a certain body type or size.^{[2]
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Research source}
- BED follows a specific cycle.^{[3]
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  Trustworthy Source
  HelpGuide
  Nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free, evidence-based mental health and wellness resources.
  Go to source} Single, independent instances of overeating, like getting seconds at a holiday dinner, don’t count as BED.^{[4]
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  Trustworthy Source
  National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
  Health information from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, a division of the U.S. National Institutes of Health
  Go to source}
2
BED is a psychiatric disorder. When you have BED, you don’t feel like you have any control over how much and how often you eat. You might feel depressed, and spend a lot of time wrestling with your body image.^{[5]
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Research source}

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3
BED typically starts at a young age. Most cases of BED occur in teenagers or young adults. You could also develop BED after attempting a big diet.^{[6]
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Trustworthy Source
HelpGuide
Nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free, evidence-based mental health and wellness resources.
Go to source}

Question 2 of 8:

Causes

1
BED may be influenced by genetics. Experts believe that binge eating is connected to CYFIP2, a specific gene in the body. According to researchers, people with this specific gene are more likely to develop BED.^{[7]
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Research source}
2
Past emotional trauma is associated with BED. In one study, researchers compared participants who had either BED or bulimia. According to this study, people with BED were dealing with more past traumas than the individuals with bulimia. While more research still needs to be done specifically on BED, there’s still a strong link between this disorder and past emotional struggles.^{[8]
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Trustworthy Source
PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source}

Question 3 of 8:

Symptoms

1
Eating rapidly and overeating are common symptoms. You may have a really hard time controlling yourself, and may eat a lot of food in a short amount of time. You may also overeat, or eat when you’re not hungry.^{[9]
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HelpGuide
Nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free, evidence-based mental health and wellness resources.
Go to source}
- You have nothing to be ashamed of if you identify with these symptoms. A lot of people struggle with BED, and you’re definitely not alone.
2
You might feel guilty about your eating habits. If you have BED, it’s completely normal to feel upset or ashamed of your eating habits, and to hide away from other people when you binge. If your BED causes you to eat in private a lot, you’re definitely not alone.^{[10]
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HelpGuide
Nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free, evidence-based mental health and wellness resources.
Go to source}
- You may eat normal portions with their friends and family, but eat more when you’re alone.

Question 4 of 8:

Diagnosis

BED is diagnosed if you binge eat on a weekly basis for at least 3 months. Additionally, you need to have at least 3 of 5 common symptoms: eating food too quickly, eating lots of food at one time, eating until you’re too full, eating privately due to shame, or feeling a sense of guilt, depression, or disgust after a binge.^{[11]
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Research source}
- Let your doctor know if you feel out of control whenever you binge—this is a good indicator of BED.

Question 5 of 8:

Treatment

1
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps tackle negative thoughts and body image. CBT helps you pinpoint the factors that lead to your binge-eating episodes. Regular therapy can also help you regain a feeling of control and ownership over your eating habits, and help you develop a regular eating schedule.^{[12]
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Trustworthy Source
PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source}
2
Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) focuses on how you connect with others. If your binge eating episodes are linked to stressful relationships, IPT may be able to help. IPT is all about boosting your people skills so you can better connect and relate with the people in your life.^{[13]
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Research source}
- Studies show that CBT and IPT are the most effective therapies for BED.^{[14]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  PubMed Central
  Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
  Go to source}
3
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) treats binge eating as an emotional response.^{[15]
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Trustworthy Source
PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source} DBT provides you with lots of helpful skills, like managing stress and regulating your feelings. This therapy also helps you better connect with the people around you, which may decrease your desire to binge.^{[16]
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Research source}
4
Some medications can treat BED. The ADHD medication Vyvanse, or lisdexamfetamine dimesylate, is an FDA-approved treatment for BED. Other people find that topiramate, a seizure drug, and antidepressants can help with BED, too.^{[17]
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Trustworthy Source
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Health information from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, a division of the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source}
- Experts aren’t entirely sure why and how antidepressants help with BED.

Question 6 of 8:

Prevention

1
Chart your mood and eating habits in a journal. Jot down your thoughts and feelings whenever you feel the urge to binge. Try to pinpoint what caused the urge, so you know exactly what your triggers are. With each entry, write what you ate or were planning on eating; the trigger; your feelings before eating; your feelings while eating; and your feelings when you were done eating. Repeated journaling is a great way to help you identify patterns in your binge eating, and possibly prevent future binges.^{[18]
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Trustworthy Source
HelpGuide
Nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free, evidence-based mental health and wellness resources.
Go to source}
2
Eat regularly-scheduled meals and snacks. Many people with BED feel guilty after a binge, so they then restrict their meals. However, this creates a cycle where you get very hungry—because your body is literally starving—and you lose control and binge. To help prevent that, eat meals and snacks every 3-4 hours throughout the day. This can help you feel full and satisfied, which can help prevent a binge.^{[19]
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Expert Source

JoAnn Solomon
Master Beauty Consultant & Celebrity Makeup Artist
Expert Interview. 22 October 2020.}
3
Avoid labeling certain foods as good or bad. If you completely restrict yourself from a certain food, it can cause you to crave that food more. This can eventually cause you to binge on that food later on, especially in the nighttime, when you're more vulnerable to a binge.^{[20]
X
Expert Source

JoAnn Solomon
Master Beauty Consultant & Celebrity Makeup Artist
Expert Interview. 22 October 2020.}
- If you have a hard time enjoying a food in moderate amounts, it might be best to avoid it until you feel like you can control that urge better.^{[21]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  JoAnn Solomon
  Master Beauty Consultant & Celebrity Makeup Artist
  Expert Interview. 22 October 2020.}
4
Practice mindfulness on a regular basis. Studies show that mindfulness can reduce your urge to binge, but there isn’t a lot of research yet.^{[22]
X
Trustworthy Source
PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source} When you eat, first dish out a small portion. Then, give yourself a couple of minutes to appreciate your food before you dig in. As you eat, enjoy your food in slow, small bites.^{[23]
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Trustworthy Source
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School's Educational Site for the Public
Go to source}
5
Find an activity to do during the times of day you're most vulnerable. If you know that the evening is when you're most likely to do, try to find a way to stay busy during that time. That way, you'll be preoccupied, and less likely to binge. For instance, you might go for a walk, take a shower, or spend time with your family—anything that helps you get your mind off of the food.^{[24]
X
Expert Source

JoAnn Solomon
Master Beauty Consultant & Celebrity Makeup Artist
Expert Interview. 22 October 2020.}
6
Talk to a trusted individual or support group. According to research, you might have an easier time coping and managing your disorders when you have a lot of social support.^{[25]
X
Trustworthy Source
PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source} Reach out to a trained or counselor, or simply text a friend or family member when you feel tempted to binge—it can be a big help!^{[26]
X
Trustworthy Source
HelpGuide
Nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free, evidence-based mental health and wellness resources.
Go to source}

Question 7 of 8:

Prognosis

Most people with BED get better after seeking treatment.^{[27]
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Trustworthy Source
National Health Service (UK)
Public healthcare system of the UK
Go to source} Healing and recovering from an eating disorder can take a long time, but it definitely isn’t impossible! Relapsing is a completely normal part of the recovery process and may happen after certain stressors, like going to school, starting a new job, starting or ending a new relationship, or running into financial challenges.^{[28]
X
Trustworthy Source
National Eating Disorders Association
Nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals and communities affected by eating disorders
Go to source}

Question 8 of 8:

Additional Info

1
Women are more likely to suffer from BED. Research shows that 3.5% of all women and 2% of all men will struggle with BED at some point in their life. However, men are more likely to struggle with BED than other common eating disorders, like anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.^{[29]
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Research source}
2
People with BED often have additional psychological conditions. Studies show that over 75% of people with BED also struggle with another mental illness, like panic disorder, OCD, PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, depressive disorders, and more.^{[30]
X
Trustworthy Source
PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source}

Expert Q&A
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Question

How do I stop bingeing when I'm hungry?

Amy Chow
Registered Dietitian
Amy Chow is a Registered Dietitian and the Founder of Chow Down Nutrition, a family and child nutrition consulting service in British Columbia (BC), Canada. With over nine years of experience, Amy has a special interest in pediatric nutrition, food allergy management, and eating disorder recovery. Amy holds a Bachelor’s degree in Nutritional Sciences from McGill University. She gained her clinical experiences at residential and outpatient eating disorder treatment programs as well as for BC Children’s Hospital before starting her own business. She has been featured on Find BC Dietitians, Dietitians of Canada, Food Allergy Canada, Recovery Care Collective, Parentology, Save on Foods, National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC), and Joytv.

Amy Chow

Registered Dietitian

Expert Answer

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Eat meals and snacks every 3-4 hours throughout the day. A lot of people feel guilty about a binge then restrict their intake. What happens if you're not eating throughout the day is that you'll lose control at night and binge because your body is starving.
Question

Do I need to stop eating trigger foods completely?

Amy Chow
Registered Dietitian
Amy Chow is a Registered Dietitian and the Founder of Chow Down Nutrition, a family and child nutrition consulting service in British Columbia (BC), Canada. With over nine years of experience, Amy has a special interest in pediatric nutrition, food allergy management, and eating disorder recovery. Amy holds a Bachelor’s degree in Nutritional Sciences from McGill University. She gained her clinical experiences at residential and outpatient eating disorder treatment programs as well as for BC Children’s Hospital before starting her own business. She has been featured on Find BC Dietitians, Dietitians of Canada, Food Allergy Canada, Recovery Care Collective, Parentology, Save on Foods, National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC), and Joytv.

Amy Chow

Registered Dietitian

Expert Answer

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You should avoid labeling food as good or bad. If you restrict yourself completely from a food, you'll usually end up craving that food more. Instead, find ways to incorporate it in moderate amounts. If that's too challenging for you right now, don't keep those foods in your house until you're successful with your regular meals and snacks. Then, when you do bring it in, incorporate it regularly as part of your meals and snacks.
Question

What if I do have a binge?

Amy Chow
Registered Dietitian
Amy Chow is a Registered Dietitian and the Founder of Chow Down Nutrition, a family and child nutrition consulting service in British Columbia (BC), Canada. With over nine years of experience, Amy has a special interest in pediatric nutrition, food allergy management, and eating disorder recovery. Amy holds a Bachelor’s degree in Nutritional Sciences from McGill University. She gained her clinical experiences at residential and outpatient eating disorder treatment programs as well as for BC Children’s Hospital before starting her own business. She has been featured on Find BC Dietitians, Dietitians of Canada, Food Allergy Canada, Recovery Care Collective, Parentology, Save on Foods, National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC), and Joytv.

Amy Chow

Registered Dietitian

Expert Answer

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If you do slip up and binge, just try to continue eating your regular meals. Don't compensate by restricting, because otherwise you will end up in that same cycle of restricting and bingeing. Aim for progress, not perfection.