Binge eating is when you eat a large amount of food in a short amount of time and feel you can’t control what or how much you are eating. If you binge eat regularly—at least once a week for 3 months—you may have binge eating disorder.

If you have binge eating disorder, you may be very upset by your binge eating. You also may feel ashamed and try to hide your problem. Even your close friends and family members may not know you binge eat.

Binge eating disorder is the most common eating disorder in the United States, and it affects people of all racial and ethnic groups. About 1.25% of adult women and 0.42% of adult men have binge eating disorder. About 1.6% of teens age 13 to 18 years old are affected. A much larger percentage of teens and adults have episodes of binge eating or loss-of-control eating—which is the feeling that you cannot control your eating, regardless of how much food you actually eat—but at a rate that is not frequent enough to meet the criteria for binge eating disorder.

The average age at which binge eating disorder first occurs is 25 years. Nearly two-thirds of people who meet the criteria for binge eating disorder experience binge eating episodes over the span of 1 year or longer.

People who have bulimia nervosa routinely try to prevent weight gain after binge eating by vomiting, using laxatives or diuretics, fasting, or exercising excessively. People with binge eating disorder may occasionally try these strategies to avoid weight gain, but it is not a regular part of their binge-eating behavior.

Binge eating disorder can occur in people of average body weight, but it is more common in people who have obesity, particularly severe obesity. However, it is important to note that most people with obesity do not have binge eating disorder.

Binge eating disorder is more common in younger and middle-aged people. However, older people can be affected, too.

Binge eating disorder is common among people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The distress of having diabetes, which requires a constant focus on weight and food control, may be the reason for this link. In some people, binge eating disorder contributes to the development of type 2 diabetes, both through excessive weight gain and increased risk of metabolic abnormalities. Binge eating disorder can also make it harder for people with diabetes to control their blood glucose, also known as blood sugar.

For some people, painful childhood experiences—such as family problems and critical comments about your shape, weight, or eating habits—are linked to developing binge eating disorder. Binge eating disorder runs in families, and researchers have identified a genetic component as well.

Like other eating disorders, binge eating disorder results from a mix of factors related to your genes, your thoughts and feelings—particularly about your weight and shape—as well as cultural and social issues and your environment. Binge eating disorder also has been linked to depression and anxiety.

For some people, dieting in unhealthy ways—such as skipping meals, not eating enough food, or avoiding certain kinds of food—may contribute to binge eating.

If you have binge eating disorder, you may

• eat a large amount of food in a short amount of time; for example, within 2 hours
• feel you lack control over your eating; for example, you cannot stop eating or control what or how much you are eating

You also may

• eat more quickly than usual during binge episodes
• eat until you feel uncomfortably full
• eat large amounts of food even when you are not hungry
• eat alone because you are embarrassed about the amount of food you eat
• feel disgusted, depressed, or guilty after overeating

If you think that you or someone close to you may have binge eating disorder, share your concerns with a health care professional, who can connect you to helpful sources of care.

Binge eating disorder may lead to weight gain and health problems related to obesity. Overweight and obesity are linked to many health problems, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain types of cancer. People with binge eating disorder may also have mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts. Some people with binge eating disorder also have sleep disorders, problems with their digestive system, or joint and muscle pain. More than half of people with binge eating disorder report it caused them problems in social functioning, for example, it interferes with their normal daily activities.

Most of us overeat from time to time. Some of us often feel we have eaten more than we should have. Eating a lot of food does not necessarily mean you have binge eating disorder.

To determine whether you have binge eating disorder, talk with a mental health specialist who focuses on eating disorders. The specialist will talk with you about your symptoms and eating patterns and will help you find the best treatment options if you are diagnosed with binge eating disorder.

Treatment may include therapy to help you change your eating habits, thoughts, and feelings that have contributed to binge eating as well as other psychological symptoms. Types of therapy that have been shown to help people with binge eating disorder are called psychotherapies and include cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, and dialectical behavior therapy.

Your psychiatrist or other health care professional may also prescribe medicine to help you with your binge eating, or to treat other medical or mental health problems.

Treatment for BED usually includes talk therapy (talking with a specially trained therapist about your mood, feelings, thoughts, and behaviors). Your health care professional may also suggest a medicine for your BED in addition to talk therapy. The treatment your health care professional recommends may depend on other health conditions you have.

What have researchers found about talk therapy for BED?

• Researchers found that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with a therapist helps improve BED.
• More research is needed to know how well other promising types of talk therapy, including dialectical behavioral therapy and interpersonal psychotherapy, work to treat BED.

What about behavioral weight-loss therapy?

• This type of therapy helps you develop behaviors to lose weight, such as following a nutrition plan and doing more physical activity.
• Researchers found that although it may help you lose weight, behavioral weight-loss therapy alone does not clearly help binge eating behaviors.

What have researchers found about medicines for BED?

• Researchers found that lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse®), topiramate (Topamax®, Trokendi XR®, Qudexy® XR), and second-generation antidepressants help improve BED in the short term (when taken for 6 to 16 weeks).
• More research is needed to know how well these medicines work to treat BED in the long term.

What are possible side effects of the medicines?

Below are possible side effects listed by the FDA. Just because a side effect is possible does not mean you will have it.

Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse®)

• Dry mouth
• Trouble falling or staying asleep
• Decreased appetite
• Increased heart rate
• Constipation
• Feeling jittery
• Anxiety
• Headache

Warning: The FDA warns that lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse®) has a risk of abuse (taking more of the medicine than your health care professional has prescribed) and dependence (feeling like you have to take the medicine and cannot stop).

The FDA also warns that lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse®) can cause sudden death, stroke, or heart attack in some people, but these side effects are rare. People with heart problems should talk with their health care professional before taking this medicine.

Pregnant women should also talk with their health care professional before taking this medicine.

Topiramate (Topamax®, Trokendi XR®, Qudexy® XR)

• Numbness or tingling (usually in the arms, hands, feet, or legs)
• Decreased appetite
• Weight loss
• Nausea
• Tiredness or drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Nervousness
• Slowing of movement and speech or other speech problems
• Vision problems
• Fever
• Memory problems
• Diarrhea
• Changes in the taste of food
• Upper respiratory tract infection
• Pain in the belly
• Reduced sense of touch

Warning: The FDA warns that if topiramate (Topamax®, Trokendi XR®, Qudexy® XR) is taken during pregnancy, it can cause the unborn baby to have a cleft palate or a cleft lip (the roof of the mouth or the lip is split).

Second-generation antidepressants

• Nausea and vomiting
• Sweating
• Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
• Sexual problems (such as low sex drive or problems ejaculating)
• Dry mouth
• Tremor (shaking that you cannot control)
• Increase or decrease in appetite
• Feeling weak
• A rash

Note: The side effects listed here are common side effects of second-generation antidepressants. Each second-generation antidepressant may have slightly different side effects.

Warning: The FDA warns that second-generation antidepressants may cause thoughts of suicide or suicidal behavior in young adults (up to age 24). If you ever have thoughts of harming yourself, call your health care professional right away.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Pregnant women should talk with their health care professional before taking a second-generation antidepressant.

Losing weight may help prevent or reduce some of the health problems related to carrying excess weight. Binge eating may make it hard to lose weight and keep it off.

If you have binge eating disorder and are overweight, a weight-loss program that helps you develop a structured eating plan and address problem thoughts, particularly about eating and weight, may be helpful. Some people with binge eating disorder require treatment for their binge eating before entering a weight management program. However, some people with binge eating disorder do just as well as people who do not binge eat in behavioral treatment programs.

Talk with your health care professional about whether you should try to manage your binge eating before entering a weight management program. A licensed nutrition professional, such as a registered dietitian trained in disordered eating can help you adopt healthier eating patterns.

There are several things to think about when deciding which treatment is right for you. You may want to talk with your health care professional about:

• What treatment may be best for you
• The possible benefits and side effects of the treatment
• The cost of the treatment
• What your family and friends can do to support you

Ask your health care professional

• Do you think talk therapy may help me? If so, which type of talk therapy do you think might be best for me? Why?
• Can you help me find a therapist trained to help people with BED?
• How often would I need to meet with the therapist?
• Do you think a medicine may also help? If so, which medicine do you think might work best for me?
• How long would I need to take the medicine?
• What side effects should I watch for? What should I do if I have any side effects?