How to Detect Binge Eating Disorder? 6 Warning Signs

These are the warning signs of a possible binge eating disorder.

When we talk about eating disorders (also known as eating disorders), words like "anorexia" and "bulimia" often come to mind.

However, although these are possibly the main representatives of this group of psychopathologies, in the sense that they are part of popular culture, there are others no less important. Among them is binge eating disorder.

This is one of the most common eating disorders, affecting about 2% of adults, and is slightly more common in women. In this article we will see what are its characteristics and what are the warning signs to detect this psychopathology..

What is binge eating disorder?

Binge eating disorder is a psychopathology very similar to bulimia in several ways. In both phenomena there is a propensity to to feel the need to binge on food.In the medium and long term, it becomes a problem that severely affects not only mental health, but also physical health. Moreover, in both cases we are talking about a tendency to eat not because of hunger or a physiological or metabolic imbalance that makes it necessary to receive nutrients quickly. In other words, there is a psychological alteration.

The fundamental difference between binge eating disorder and bulimia is that in bulimia, purging behaviors (e.g., making oneself vomit or exercising) occur as a compulsion after binge eating in an attempt to somehow compensate for the food intake and the resulting calories, whereas in binge eating disorder this does not occur.

On the other hand, binge eating disorder is associated with many other pathologiessuch as obesity or major depression.

Symptoms and warning signs to detect this disorder

These are the warning signs that help to detect cases of binge eating disorder. However, remember that a definitive diagnosis can only be made by mental health professionals, and that not all of these events need to occur at the same time and on all occasions.

1. The person binges without being hungry.

People with binge eating disorder tend to eat a lot and very fast not because they are hungry, but when they feel bad for psychological reasons (for example, when a memory comes to mind that makes them feel ashamed or when they are stressed about an exam they have to take soon). (for example, when a memory comes to mind that makes them feel ashamed or when they feel stressed about an exam they have to take soon).

2. Eating so much and so fast that the intake causes discomfort.

Binge eating disorder goes hand in hand with a difficulty in determining how much food is enough, and the person binge eats so much food so quickly that they often feels bad about ending up with an overly full stomach..

3. Binge eating is planned

While binge eating itself usually occurs spontaneously and is unplanned, people who have developed binge eating disorder do plan to create an environment in which they can access a lot of food quickly..

That means, for example, that they make sure they have a well-stocked fridge and/or pantry at all times, which is a more important concern than it is for the average person.

4. Binge eating occurs on a weekly or daily basis.

The degree of intensity or severity that binge eating disorder can reach ranges from mild cases (one to three binges per week) to extreme cases (with more than a dozen binges per week).

5. Altered states of consciousness during binge eating

It is not uncommon that at the time of binge eating the person feels dazed and focuses only on the act of eating and tasting, and that shortly after having eaten these foods, he/she does not remember what he/she has eaten..

6. Feelings of guilt after ingestion

It is common for people with binge eating disorder to feel bad about themselves for binge eating; however, as we have seen, this guilt does not translate into purging behaviors as it does with bulimia, this guilt does not translate into purging behaviors as it does with bulimia..

What can be done about this psychopathology?

Fortunately, binge eating disorder can be treated, and those who develop this psychopathology and develop it Those who develop this psychopathology and attend therapy have a good chance of overcoming it in a matter of a few months..

This is a process in which both medical and nutrition professionals and psychologists should be involved; it should not be forgotten that this disorder goes beyond the functioning of the body in a Biological sense, and is maintained through learned patterns of behavior that can be eliminated or modified through psychotherapy. Thus, intervening both from medicine and psychology, we intervene through the double route of changes at the organic level and at the behavioral level and mental processes, so that the changes for the better are consolidated and maintained over time.

Are you looking for psychological assistance?

If you are interested in support for problems related to mental health and emotional well-being, please contact us. At Psychology and Psychotherapy Miguel Ángel we have more than 30 years of experience in the field of psychotherapy and we attend people of all ages individually as well as in couples and family therapy sessions. You can count on us both in our psychology center located in Bilbao and through our online therapy service.

Bibliographical references:

• American Psychiatric Association -APA- (2014). DSM-5. Manual diagnóstico y estadístico de los trastornos mentales. Madrid: Panamericana.
• Fairburn, C. (2013). Overcoming binge eating: the proven program to learn why you binge and how you can stop.Nueva York: Guilford Publications.
• Mazzeo, S.E.; Bulik, C.M. (2009). Environmental and genetic risk factors for eating disorders: what the clinician needs to know. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America. 18(1): pp. 67 - 82.
• Soutullo Esperón, C. (2010). Manual de Psiquiatría del niño y el adolescente. Madrid: Medica Panamericana.