Stick Figure discussion

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder?

Contrary to popular belief, weight is not necessarily a sign that one suffers from an eating disorder. A person with a binge eating disorder is just as likely to be a normal weight. In fact, most obese people don't have binge-eating disorder.

As with bulimia nervosa, there are often no obvious physical signs or symptoms that someone is suffering with binge-eating disorder. However, when a woman has binge eating disorder she often has numerous behavioral signs and symptoms. These may include:

Eating large amounts of food

Eating even when full

Eating rapidly during binge episodes

Frequent dieting without weight loss

Frequently eating alone

Hoarding food

Hiding empty food containers

Binge eating disorder is more accurately characterized by its emotional symptoms:
Lack of control once one begins to eat

Depression

Grief

Anxiety

Shame

Disgust or self-hatred about eating behaviors

After a binge, one may try to diet or eat normal meals. Unlike bulimics, who habitally purge themselves following eating binges, for a binge eater attempting to restrict food intake may simply trigger more binge eating, creating a vicious cycle.

Oh my god I am a binge eater and here I was thinking it was typical teenage behavior

^^ Me too. I kind of thought last year, in my Wellness class that I was too...