Do I Have Binge Eating Disorder? Here’s What to Know
Most of us have eaten more than usual at times, perhaps at a festive gathering or a celebratory meal. Occasional overeating is part of normal eating. Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is different. It’s estimated that BED affects at least one in fifty people and remains one of the most common, yet least acknowledged eating disorders. In fact, it was only officially recognised as an eating disorder in its own right in 2013.
Importantly, BED is not about greed or a lack of willpower. It is a serious mental health condition, associated with both emotional and physical distress, including anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. Many people suffer in silence due to shame or the fear of being judged.
If you experience episodes of binge eating or worry that someone close to you might be struggling, you may be wondering whether it’s simply overeating or something more.
While BED must be diagnosed by a medical professional, here are some common features that may indicate the presence of Binge Eating Disorder:
· Recurring episodes of eating significantly more food than most people would eat (under similar circumstances) in a short period of time.
· Feeling out of control -unable to stop eating or control what or how much is being eaten
· Eating more rapidly than normal
· Eating until feeling uncomfortably full
· Eating large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry
· Eating alone because of being embarrassed by how much has been eaten
· Feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed, or very guilty after overeating
· Marked distress about the binge eating episode
· Absence of regular compensatory behaviours (such as purging or over exercising as with Bulimia Nervosa).
The number of binge episodes someone experiences can vary widely from once a week to multiple times a day in more severe cases.
Whether you have a diagnosis or not, if food and body image cause you distress, it can feel like a daily battle. But please know this: it doesn’t have to stay this way.
Recovery is possible. I’ve supported hundreds of women and men in breaking free from the binge cycle, healing their relationship with food, and reclaiming peace in their lives. With the right approach and support, change is not only possible, but absolutely within reach.
You are not alone, and you are worthy of that support.
If you’re looking for a place to start, download my Free Breaking the Cycle Starter Kit. This is your gateway to transforming your eating patterns and building a mindful, balanced, and joyful relationship with food and includes practical tools and insights to help you begin today.
And if you’re ready to go deeper, my book The Binge Freedom Method™ lays out the exact framework I use with clients to address the root causes of binge eating, providing clear action steps, compassionate guidance, and real-life strategies for lasting change.