Binge eating disorder

What it means

According to the NIDDK, binge eating that happens at least once a week for 3 months, along with a sense of lost control, may point to binge eating disorder. People often eat quickly, eat when not hungry, eat alone because of embarrassment and feel guilt or distress afterward.

It is the most common eating disorder in the US, and it can occur at any body weight, although many people with it also have overweight or obesity.

A mental health professional makes the diagnosis. Treatment may include talk therapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy, behavioral weight-loss programs, nutrition counseling with someone trained in disordered eating and, in some cases, medicine.

GLP-1 medicines are not approved to treat binge eating disorder. Researchers are studying how they affect binge eating, and the evidence is still early. If you recognize these patterns, it is worth raising them before starting any weight-loss plan, so care can address both.

Why it matters

Screening for binge eating helps a care team choose a safer, better-fitting plan before weight-loss treatment starts.