Binge Eating Disorder

Overview

• New disorder in DSM-5
• Binge eating without associated compensatory behaviors
• Associated with distress and/or functional impairment (e.g., health risk, feelings of guilt)
• Excessive concern with weight or shape may or may not be present
• Involves disordered eating behavior (binges)
• May involve fewer cognitive distortions about weight and shape

Associated Features

• Approximately 20% of individuals in weight control programs suffer from BED
• Approximately half of candidates for bariatric surgery suffer from BED
• Better response to treatment than other eating disorders
• Tend to be older than sufferers of anorexia and bulimia
• Higher rates of psychopathology than non-bingeing obese individuals

Diagnostic Criteria

• Recurrent episodes of binge eating
• Binge-eating episodes are associated with three or more of the following:
  • Eating much more than normal
  • Eating until feeling uncomfortably full
  • Eating large amounts when not hungry
  • Eating alone because embarrassed how much one is eating
  • Feeling disgusted/guilty after eating
• Marked distress regarding binge eating
• Binge eating not associated with bulimia

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