Binge-Eating Disorder

Binge-eating disorder (BED), the most common type of eating disorder, is characterized by episodes of binge eating that are associated with significant distress and a sense of loss of control.  Recurrent compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain (ie, purging) in response to binge-eating episodes are not present, although patients may have a history of frequent dieting attempts.  The majority of patients with BED are overweight or obese, and symptom onset typically occurs in patients who are already at an increased body weight.  Many patients experience significant shame related to their symptoms and often try to conceal binge-eating episodes.

The risk for BED increases as body weight increases (ie, highest prevalence in patients with obesity).  This disorder is more common in female patients than in male patients (3:1 ratio), and the disease onset is usually during adolescence or young adulthood (age 12-25).