Binge Eating Disorder Health Center

Treatment for binge eating disorder includes getting counseling and, in some cases, taking medicine. Your doctor may have you do both. You may need treatment for a long time to fully recover. You also may need treatment for other problems that often occur with binge eating disorder. These can include depression, obesity, or problems with being overweight.

Who gets binge eating disorder?

Binge eating disorder most often starts in the late teens or the young-adult years. It is more common in women than men.

Binge eating disorder can be triggered by dieting, depression, or anxiety. It can even start because of boredom or stress, which is then relieved by binging. Your risk for binge eating increases if:

• You or your parents are overweight.
• You are a perfectionist. This means that you feel like you have to do everything exactly right all the time.
• You have a poor body image, which means that you don't like the way your body looks.
• You live in a culture that values being thin.

Frequently Asked Questions