Binge eating disorder (BED) – colloquially known as binge eating – (synonyms: psychogenic eating disorder; binge eating; binge eating disorder (BES); binge eating; eating disorder; binge eating disorder; psychogenic eating disorder; ICD-10-GM F50.4: binge eating in other mental disorders; ICD-10-GM F50.9: eating disorder, unspecified) is a psychogenic eating disorder. The English term “binge” translates as “to gorge.” What is meant by this term is the occurrence of excessive eating attacks (binge eating), independent of the feeling of hunger. However, unlike bulimia nervosa, the binge eating episodes are not followed by self-induced vomiting or other weight control measures such as starvation or excessive exercise, so the disorder usually leads to obesity.
Binge eating disorder is said to occur when there are at least two episodes per week.
Sufferers can be divided into two groups:
- “Diet-first” group – Sufferers have previous dieting experience before their first binge. First eating attack at an average age of 26 years.
- “Binge-first” group – The sufferers have binge eating before they have ever dieted. The disease is already apparent at an average age of 12 years.
Sex ratio: girls are slightly more affected than boys. Men to women is 1: 1.5. However, binge eating disorder is more common in men than other eating disorders.
Frequency peak: the disorder affects all ages and is even encountered in childhood.
The prevalence (disease incidence) is 2-3%, with up to 30% in people with obesity in therapy (in Germany). Overweight people have a prevalence of 4-9 %. Obese adolescents suffer from binge eating in 20-30% of cases.In one study, it was found that about 20% of the population experiences binge eating with loss of control from time to time. The incidence (frequency of new cases) is about 17 cases per 100,000 inhabitants per year (in Germany).
Course and prognosis: The incidence of binge eating disorder increases during puberty in girls and is often associated with overweight or obesity in adolescents. A major focus of therapy is psychotherapy to resolve psychological conflicts that usually underlie the disordered eating behavior. In addition, pharmacotherapy (drug treatment) consisting of antidepressants and/or drugs that facilitate weight reduction is also used.Compared to other eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa), the prognosis is more favorable. Approximately two-thirds of patients receiving therapy are able to overcome the binge-eating disorder.
Comorbidities (concomitant disorders): binge-eating disorder is increasingly associated with affective disorders such as depression (50-60%) and anxiety disorders (20-50%).
