How can family and friends help someone with binge eating disorder?

Binge eating disorder (BED) is a serious, life-threatening eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of eating large amounts of food (often very quickly and to the point of discomfort); a feeling of loss of control during the binge; experiencing shame, distress or guilt afterwards; and not regularly using unhealthy compensatory behaviors (i.e., purging) to counteract the binge eating. If you suspect that a loved one may be struggling with BED, there are many ways you can help.

The first and most important step is to educate yourself about the disorder. BED is a complex disorder with a number of underlying causes, so it’s important to have a good understanding of the condition before you can effectively support your loved one. There are a number of excellent resources available online, including the National Eating Disorders Association website.

Once you’ve educated yourself about BED, you can start to talk to your loved one about your concerns. It’s important to have this conversation in a way that is supportive and non-judgmental. Avoid statements that could be interpreted as blame, such as “you’re eating too much” or “you’re making yourself sick.” Instead, focus on expressing your care and concern, and letting your loved one know that you’re there to support them.

If your loved one is receptive to your concerns and is interested in getting help, there are a number of different treatment options available. The most effective approach to treatment is typically a combination of individual therapy, group therapy, and medical intervention.

Individual therapy can help your loved one to identify and address the underlying causes of their binge eating disorder. This might involve exploring past traumas or addressing negative beliefs about their body and worthiness.

Group therapy can provide valuable support and insight from others who are struggling with similar issues. It can be helpful for your loved one to see that they are not alone in their experience.

Medical intervention might be necessary in some cases to address physical consequences of the disorder, such as obesity or heart problems. In other cases, medication can be used to treat co-occurring mental health conditions, such as anxiety or depression.

As a family member or friend, you can’t directly “fix” your loved one’s binge eating disorder. However, you can play a vital role in their treatment and recovery. Offer your support, understanding, and love, and encourage them to seek professional help if necessary..Click here to find out more

How is binge eating disorder diagnosed?

A binge eating disorder diagnosis is typically made by a mental health professional, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist, after conducting a clinical interview and observing the person’s eating habits. The professional will also likely perform a physical examination and order lab tests to rule out any physical causes for the person’s binge eating episodes, such as a thyroid problem.

During the clinical interview, the mental health professional will ask the person about their eating habits, including how often they binge eat, how long each binge lasts, and what types of foods they eat during a binge. The professional will also inquire about the person’s feelings and behaviors surrounding their eating. For example, the person may be asked if they eat faster than usual during a binge, if they eat until they feel uncomfortably full, or if they eat even when they’re not physically hungry.

The mental health professional will also ask about the person’s general mental health, including whether they’ve experienced any major life stressors or changes, such as a divorce, job loss, or death in the family. They’ll also want to know if the person has any other mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, or an eating disorder.

After the clinical interview, the mental health professional will assess whether the person meets the diagnostic criteria for binge eating disorder, which are outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). To be diagnosed with binge eating disorder, a person must:

Consume an unusually large amount of food in a short period of time
Feel a loss of control over their eating during the episode
Feel distress or embarrassment about their binge eating afterward
Binge eating episodes must occur, on average, at least once a week for 3 months
The binge eating episodes are not associated with the use of excessive amounts of weight-loss strategies, such as vomiting or taking laxatives

If the person meets the criteria for binge eating disorder, the mental health professional will likely also assess the severity of the disorder. Binge eating disorder is considered mild if the person has 1-3 binge eating episodes per week, moderate if they have 4-7 episodes, and severe if they have 8 or more episodes.

The mental health professional may also use a variety of self-report questionnaires and psychological tests to help make a diagnosis. For example, the Binge Eating Scale is a 25-item self-report questionnaire that asks about the frequency and severity of a person’s binge eating symptoms. The Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q) is another self-report questionnaire that assesses the frequency and severity of symptoms of anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder.

If you think you might have binge eating disorder, it’s important to seek professional help. A diagnosis from a mental health professional can help you get the treatment you need to recover from the disorder.

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