Is Binge Eating Disorder A Mental Illness? Addressing The Stigma of BED
It’s estimated that approximately 2.6% of the entire U.S. population struggles with binge eating, that’s almost 8.6 million people.
If so many people are struggling with binge eating disorder, why does it seem that no one talks about it? First, let’s define a few things:
What is binge eating?
According to the National Eating Disorder Association, binge eating is defined as the following:
Eating, in a discrete period of time (e.g., within any 2-hour period), an amount of food that is definitely larger than what most people would eat in a similar period of time under similar circumstances.
A sense of lack of control of eating during the episode (e.g., a feeling that one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating)
What is binge eating disorder?
Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is the associated with three or more of the following:
Eating much more rapidly than normal
Eating until feeling uncomfortably full
Eating large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry
Eating alone because of feeling embarrassed by how much one is eating
Feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed, or very guilty afterward
Binge eating was only recently added to the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) in 2013, much later than other eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa that are what people typically think of when they asked about eating disorders. The truth is, even though binge eating disorder is the most common eating disorder, BED is still widely misunderstood.
How does binge eating disorder differ from other eating disorders?
While there are some clear distinctions that separate binge eating from other disorders, it might surprise you to learn that different eating disorders are actually more similar than they are different!
Differences between eating disorders: While anorexia nervosa involves intense food restriction in the pursuit of thinness or out of fear of gaining weight, bulimia nervosa is similar to binge eating disorder. Just like binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa involves recurrent episodes of binge eating. However, those with bulimia engage in compensatory behaviors after binge eating. With binge eating disorder, there are no compensatory behaviors following a binge eating episode such as exercise or purging.
Common Symptoms and similarities between anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder:
Feelings of body dissatisfaction or shame
Skipping meals
Frequently diets
Restricts foods or food groups entirely from the diet
Anxiety and depression
Avoids social events and social gatherings
Discomfort or unwillingness to eat around others
Use of body checking behaviors
Intense fear of weight gain
Obsessive thoughts about food or body image
Fatigue
Lack of hunger and satiety signals
Engages in regimented physical activity to “burn off” calories
This isn’t an exhaustive list and eating disorders exist on a spectrum, as they can change and, more often than not, overlap into one another. Although there are more similarities than there are differences, binge eating disorder is often perceived very differently from the other eating disorders.
Why is binge eating disorder perceived so differently in comparison to other eating disorders?
It’s no surprise that diet culture and weight stigma are to blame. Diet culture tries to convince you that the pursuit of weight loss and thinness is more important than all else, and that restriction and weight loss should be glorified.
As a result, eating disorder behaviors with intense food restriction like anorexia nervosa, are praised. Think about it: people suffering from the restraints of anorexia nervosa are being congratulated on their weight loss and praised for their efforts, even when the weight loss is a result of an eating disorder! And this is especially true for those in bodies of size that have atypical anorexia.
While anorexia is glorified, diet culture teaches you to demonize other eating disorders, like binge eating disorder because of the binge eating behavior and it’s associations with gluttony, lack of control, lack of will power and being in a larger body. Fatphobia causes those who struggle with binge eating, and subsequently with binge eating disorder, to be falsely perceived as physically, intellectually, and morally inferior. Diet culture perpetuates and promotes weight-based discrimination.
What diet culture fails to tell you is that restriction often leads to binge eating ! Research shows that food restriction causes many people to enter the restrict-binge-shame cycle. It looks a little something like this:
You begin restricting foods or food groups, portion sizes, or reducing how often you eat. Although you see temporary results, the food restriction isn’t sustainable, and you’re led directly into a binge eating experience. The binge causes you to feel like a failure and you experience intense feelings of guilt and shame. This leads you to compensate for this behavior by restricting again. The restrict-binge-shame cycle goes on and on, and often leads people to feel as if there is no end in sight.
Where do you see binge eating disorder stereotyped and stigmatized?
In the media - A recent film released in 2022 received intense praise from the media. Producers, while attempting to portray the realities of people in larger bodies and binge eating disorder, missed the mark with this one. Critics are not shy to reveal the film’s perpetuation of fatphobia and harmful weight stigma. In truth, the film perpetuates a false misconception that those living in larger bodies are depressed, immobile, inherently unhappy, etc. And these stereotypes extend beyond this singular film. Many television shows and movies attempt to portray the realities people in larger bodies, but fail to do so.
In healthcare - Medical weight stigma is real and it harms many. Those who exist in larger bodies are less likely to be taken seriously by doctors because of weight stigma and training that’s rooted in weight basis. Studies show that doctors spend less time with fat people during health visits, give them less information than other patients, and view them as incapable and noncompliant. It’s also no secret that medical professionals love to prescribe weight loss as a “solution” to many health issues.
Why is the stigmatization of binge eating disorder a problem?
Although binge eating disorder is the most common eating disorder, people are less likely to report episodes of binging than they are to report restriction or purging. Those suffering from binge eating disorder may feel:
Invalidated in their experiences with healthcare and medical professionals
Unwilling to seek treatment or help from medical professionals
Embarrassed to report experiences or behaviors with friends, family, or loved ones
Social and emotional isolation that increases the frequency of bingeing episodes
Feelings of shame or guilt because of weight or bingeing tendencies
Anxiety or depression as a result of isolation or weight based oppression
An eating disorder is an eating disorder, regardless of the person’s weight status, age, ability, race, ethnicity, body shape, size, etc. Those suffering deserve to feel respected and heard, regardless of which eating disorder they are suffering from.
Four Ways You Can Help Fight Weight Stigma For Binge Eating Disorder and Beyond!:
Educate yourself on Binge Eating Disorder and weight stigma.
To gain a real understanding of BED and how it impacts those who suffer from it, it’s important to educate yourself on the realities of binge eating disorder. BED is just as serious as other eating disorders, and impacts more people than anorexia and bulimia combined! Learning about the impacts of weight based discrimination is key to challenging fatphobia. By expanding your knowledge on binge eating and weight based oppression, you can give yourself the tools to understand the true nature of eating disorders. Consider reading blogs and books or listening to podcasts to expand your knowledge on binge eating disorder and weight stigma!
Reject diet culture.
Rejecting diet culture is key to dismantling the system of weight based oppression. You need to challenge the belief that thin is better and weight loss is “healthy”! You will need to let go of the impossible standards diet culture has set for you. You can do this by:
Learning about intuitive eating
Quitting dieting and learn how to nourish your body anew
Clearing your social media feeds
Follow anti-diet and body positivity accounts on social media
Challenge your internal beliefs and weight stigma.
Part of rejecting diet culture is addressing your own weight bias and fatphobia. If you find yourself judging other people for their body shape or appearance, this is something to get curious about. Consider learning about Health At Every Size, body positivity, and fat liberation.
Be a calm and safer space for those struggling with binge eating disorder.
Identify where you see fatphobia in your life. And when you see it, don’t be afraid to challenge it and call it out respectfully! For more information on how to address fatphobia with family and friends, consider reading 5 Ways To Set Boundaries With Loved Ones Around Diet Culture Talk.
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Do you struggle with binge eating or binge eating disorder and are looking for support? Our registered dietitian nutritionists want to help support you!
Although you may not hear people talk about binge eating very often, it’s important to know that you are not alone in your experience and binge eating disorder is very common. SO many people struggle with bingeing and body image, and it can feel hard to know how to get out of the binge eating cycle. If you’re in search of help with your food and body struggles, consider scheduling an appointment with our eating disorder dietitian nutritionists. Our seattle-based virtual eating disorder services are meant to help you find healing in your relationship with your body and food. Schedule a discovery call today!