Eating Disorders Among Adults - Binge Eating Disorder Statistics

Binge-eating disorder is characterized by recurrent binge-eating episodes during which a person feels a loss of control over his or her eating. Unlike bulimia, binge-eating episodes are not followed by purging, excessive exercise or fasting. As a result, people with binge-eating disorder often are overweight or obese. They also experience guilt, shame and/or distress about the binge-eating, which can lead to more binge-eating.

1. 2.8% of American adults suffer from binge eating disorder in their lifetime.
2. Approximately half of the risk for BED is genetic.
3. Nearly half of BED patients have a comorbid mood disorder.
4. More than half of BED patients have comorbid anxiety disorders.
5. Nearly 1 in 10 BED patients have a comorbid substance abuse disorder, usually alcohol use.
6. Binge eating or loss-of-control eating may be as high as 25% in post-bariatric patients.