Estimates of the number of Americans who have
binge-eating disorder range from less than 1% to 4%,
with 2% being the most commonly cited figure.
Although women with binge-eating disorder outnumber
men 3:2, binge eating is the most common male
eating disorder.
The disorder affects blacks and whites
equally; little research as been done on other racial or
ethnic groups. Unlike the eating disorders anorexia
nervosa or bulimia nervosa that start in the teenage
or young adult years, binge eating disorder is more
likely to occur in middle-aged adults between the ages
of 46 and 55.
Although binge eaters may be of normal
weight, binge eating is a common disorder among
people who are obese. Some estimates suggest that
up to half the obese people in formal weight loss programs
have problems with binge-eating.
People at higher risk of developing binge-eating
disorder share certain characteristics.
These include:
-frequent dieting. People who go on rigorous diets or
who frequently gain and lose large amounts of
weight (weight cycling) are more likely to become
binge eaters.
-impulsiveness. Binge eaters, like bulimics, have problems
with impulse control.
-low self-worth and negative self-talk. This occurs
almost universally among people with all types of
eating disorders.
-difficulty managing anger and appropriately expressing
feelings.
-preoccupation with body image and weight.
-sexual abuse. Some, but by no means all, people with
binge eating disorder report being sexually abused as
children. This is an area of ongoing research.
-depression. It is not clear whether depression causes
binge eating or if binge eating causes depression, but
the two are often found together.
Binge eating can be hard for healthcare providers
to diagnose. Binge eaters often go out of their way to
hide how much they eat. They may, for example, buy
snack food at the grocery store and eat it in the car
before they go home, or they may buy food in secret
and hoard it, so that people close to them will not
know they are bingeing. Normally healthcare professionals
begin diagnosis with a family and personal
history. However, people with binge-eating disorder
often lie about their eating habits.
A physician will begin with a physical examination
and usually order standard laboratory tests such
as a complete blood count (CBC), urinalysis, and
blood tests to check the level of cholesterol, triglycerides,
and electrolytes. Additional tests, such as a thyroid
function test, may be ordered to rule out other
disorders. If the individual is obese, tests may be done
check for obesity-related diseases such as diabetes,
cardiovascular disease, and sleep apnea.
Several different evaluations can be used to examine
a person’s mental state. A doctor or mental health
professional will assess the individual’s thoughts and
feelings about themselves, their body, their relationships
with others, and their risk for self-harm.
