Understanding Binge Eating Disorder: What it is (and isn’t), Causes, and Treatment Options

Binge eating disorder affects an estimated 2.8 million people in the United States alone, making it the most common of any eating disorder. Despite being the most common eating disorder, it remains one of the most overlooked and misunderstood. If you suspect you or someone you care about may be struggling with binge eating disorder, one of the first things we can do is define and identify misconceptions about the disorder. Clearing up common misconceptions may make it easier for those struggling to recognize what they're experiencing and feel empowered to reach out for support. 

What is (and isn’t) Binge Eating Disorder? 

What Binge Eating Disorder Is

According to the DSM-5, binge eating disorder is characterized by recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food (at least 1 day a week for 3 months) — often rapidly, when not physically hungry, and to the point of discomfort. These episodes are generally accompanied by feeling like you are losing control and then followed by feelings of embarrassment, guilt, disgust, and/or depression. 

What Binge Eating Disorder is Not

1. It is not the same thing as bulimia (it does not involve compensatory behaviors)

 It’s important to know that binge eating disorder does not involve compensatory behaviors like purging, overexercising, fasting, or taking laxatives or other medications to “make up” for the binging. This is a primary factor that distinguishes it from bulimia. 

2. It does not only impact people in larger bodies 

Binge eating disorder does not have “a look.” Some believe binge eating disorder can only impact those who live in larger bodies, and this is not true. Binge eating disorder can affect people of many ages, races, genders, and body types. This can clear up a few misconceptions or assumptions that circulate: that those in smaller bodies who struggle with binge eating disorder aren’t in need or deserving of treatment or that those in larger bodies “must have” binge eating disorder. Neither of these assumptions are accurate or helpful in validating someone’s experience and connecting them to the care they may need.

3. It is not the same thing as “overeating”

“Overeating” or an occasional episode of binge-eating are not the same as binge-eating disorder.  A common misconception about binge eating disorder is that it is “basically just overeating.” This is a potentially dangerous frame that can cause people to minimize or overlook their disorder and need for intervention.

What is the difference, then, between binge eating disorder and “just overeating”? 

Occasionally eating past fullness is a normal, common experience because it is normal and common to eat for reasons other than meeting physical needs. Most people have eaten past fullness at some point—during a holiday meal, while socializing, under stress, or when navigating difficult emotions. To reiterate, doing this on occasion is not grounds for a binge eating disorder diagnosis. And, conversely, binge eating disorder is not “only overeating.” Thinking of “overeating” and binge eating disorder as one and the same minimizes and invalidates the physical and emotional toll the disorder may be having on the individual. This can also prevent someone from seeking treatment if they have been told or feel like they are “just overeating” and need to just “deal with it” on their own.

What Causes Binge Eating Disorder?

There is not one known cause for binge eating disorder. As is true with some other eating disorders, binge eating disorder is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic, biological, behavioral, psychological, and social factors. A few factors that are thought to contribute are:

• Diet culture: Diet culture plays a role in the development and promotion of many eating disorders. At its core, it encourages all-or-nothing thinking about food and our bodies: you need 34958 grams (pardon the hyperbole… although it’s hardly one based on some of the advice we see circulating these days) of protein per day, 0 grams of sugar, ALL the water, NO carbs, ALL the organic food, NO things that come in packages, ALL of the exercise, NO rest…. You get the gist. With the extremes out there as the measure for what you need to do to “get healthy” or “lose weight” or “heal your gut,” we are under an immense amount of pressure, which promotes shame around eating and weight, reinforcing the idea that we must “earn” food or be “good” to deserve a certain food. This pressure and shame sets us up for “failure” and can ultimately fuel binge-eating. 

• Brain chemistry: According to a literature review published in the Journal of Eating Disorders, imbalances in neurotransmitters like dopamine can affect how we experience cravings, satiety, and emotional regulation. This suggests that stress and emotional dysregulation can affect the brain’s ability to recognize hunger and fullness cues, which may contribute to binge eating.

• Restriction:  Some people with binge eating disorder have spent years caught in a cycle of dieting and restricting. When our bodies are undernourished or certain foods are off-limits, the brain registers scarcity. Eventually, that pendulum often swings in the other direction, leading to binge eating and, in some cases, the development of a binge eating disorder,

Treatment for Binge Eating Disorder: You Deserve Support

If you see yourself in any of this—if your relationship with food promotes anxiety, bingeing feels like a source of guilt or adds to feelings of shame or depression, or if you’re exhausted by the cycle—know that you’re not stuck here. You’re coping the best way you know how, help is available, and recovery is possible.

Treatment for binge eating disorder often involves therapy, potential support from an eating disorder-informed dietitian, and learning to reconnect with your body’s hunger and fullness cues. If you have questions or are ready to begin your healing journey, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at Wildflower Therapy in PA to schedule a free consultation. We are licensed to provide therapy to anyone currently residing in PA, NJ, DE, FL, VA, and VT (including those temporarily living in these states, such as students). If you are not in an area that we service and aren’t sure where to begin, try starting here to search for eating disorder therapists in your area. No matter where you are in your journey, recovering from binge eating disorder is possible—and you don’t have to navigate the journey alone.

By: Erika Muller, Assistant for Wildflower Therapy LLC

All images via Unsplash

How Can Eating Disorder Therapy in Philadelphia, PA Help You?

If you’re looking for someone to come alongside you to help you start or come alongside you during your eating disorder journey, our therapists in Pennsylvania are honored to help!  In fact, you can get to know a little bit more about them here and book a free consultation here.

Other Mental Health Services Provided by Wildflower Therapy, Philadelphia, PA

Life is a unique and sometimes messy journey for each of us; we all have our own individual battles to fight. Our therapists know there is no one-size-fits-all approach to any of life’s challenges and because of that, we offer many unique perspectives and approaches to help meet you where you are with our Philadelphia, PA Therapy services.

We offer services for eating disorder therapy, services for anxiety, and depression, and have practitioners who specialize in perinatal mental health , maternal mental health, therapy for college students and athletes. As well as LGBTQIA+ Affirming Therapy. As you can see, we have something to offer just about anyone in our Philadelphia, PA office. Reaching out is often the most difficult step you can take to improve your mental health. We look forward to partnering with you on this journey!