Last Updated: July 21, 2026
Binge eating disorder (BED) is an eating disorder marked by recurring episodes in which a person feels unable to stop eating or control how much they are eating. Most people have had occasions where they ate more than they intended, whether during a celebration, a holiday meal, or another special occasion. Binge eating disorder is different. During these episodes, people eat significantly more food than most people would in a similar situation over a similar period of time, and the experience is often followed by feelings of shame, guilt, or distress. Unlike bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder does not involve regular purging or other compensatory behaviours.
Although binge eating disorder is one of the most common eating disorders, many people do not recognize it as a diagnosable mental health condition. As a result, they may dismiss their experiences as a lack of willpower or a bad habit rather than something that can be understood and treated.
This article explores what binge eating disorder is, how it differs from other eating-related concerns, common signs and contributing factors, and what support and treatment can look like.
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Before You Read: We understand that the information and strategies we share may not resonate with everyone. If you're looking for additional support, we encourage you to reach out to a qualified mental health professional. If you're considering therapy, Layla's Care team can help simplify the process through personalized therapist matching and support.
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Binge Eating Disorder and Disordered Eating
Binge eating disorder is one of several eating disorders recognized by mental health professionals. It exists within a broader spectrum of eating-related concerns, which can range from disordered eating patterns to diagnosable eating disorders.
Disordered eating is not a diagnosis. Instead, it describes patterns of eating, or thoughts and behaviours around food, that become persistent, distressing, or difficult to change. These experiences can look different from person to person and do not always develop into an eating disorder. At the same time, ongoing struggles with food that cause significant distress deserve attention and support.
Understanding this distinction is important because binge eating disorder is often misunderstood. Many people assume it is simply overeating or a lack of willpower, when in reality it is a recognized mental health condition that can be understood and treated.
Who Can Experience Binge Eating Disorder?
Binge eating disorder can affect people of any age, gender, body size, or background. According to Mental Health Research Canada, approximately 2.9 million Canadians report having received an eating disorder diagnosis [1]. However, this figure reflects self-reported diagnoses and does not include the many people who experience eating disorders or disordered eating without ever receiving a formal diagnosis.
Binge eating behaviours are common among young people. The 2023 Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey found that about 40% of Ontario students reported binge eating at least once in the previous 28 days [2]. While binge eating is not the same as having binge eating disorder, these findings highlight the importance of recognizing binge eating behaviours early.
Although eating disorders are often associated with young women, they affect people across genders, body sizes, ages, and backgrounds. Groups that are often overlooked, including men and athletes, can also experience eating disorders but may be less likely to recognize their symptoms or seek support when their experiences do not fit common stereotypes [3, 4]. Recognizing that binge eating disorder can affect a wide range of people may make it easier to recognize the condition in yourself or someone you care about.
What Contributes to Binge Eating Disorder?
There is no single cause of binge eating disorder. Instead, it develops through a combination of biological, psychological, and environmental factors that interact over time. The mix is different for everyone, which is one reason why no two experiences with BED look exactly alike [5].
For some people, binge eating becomes one way of coping with difficult emotions or stressful situations. While it may bring a brief sense of relief or distraction, it is often followed by guilt, shame, or distress, making the pattern harder to interrupt over time [6]. Concerns about weight or appearance, repeated dieting, or rigid food rules can also become part of this cycle, even if they were not what started it.
These experiences are only one part of the picture. Research also suggests that genetics and differences in brain biology may influence a person's vulnerability to BED, alongside their life experiences.
Having one or even several of these experiences does not mean someone will develop binge eating disorder. They are pieces of a much larger picture, not a checklist of causes. Rather than looking for one event that explains everything, it is often more helpful to understand the patterns that keep binge eating going. That understanding becomes an important part of treatment and recovery.
Treatment, Recovery, and Support for Binge Eating Disorder
Binge eating disorder is a treatable mental health condition, and many people experience meaningful improvement with evidence-based psychological treatment.
Treatment focuses on understanding the thoughts, emotions, and patterns that contribute to binge eating while developing more flexible and supportive ways of responding [7].
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has the strongest evidence for treating binge eating disorder and is often recommended as a first-line treatment. It helps people recognize the patterns that maintain binge eating while building more regular and balanced eating habits. Other approaches can also be effective. Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) focuses on how relationships and major life events may influence eating patterns, while dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) may be particularly helpful for people who find that binge eating is closely connected to intense emotions or difficulty coping with distress.
Recovery looks different for each person, and there is no single path that works for everyone. If you think you may be experiencing binge eating disorder, speaking with a healthcare provider or mental health professional can be an important first step. In Canada, organizations such as the National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC) also provide information and support for individuals and families.
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Finding the right support
If you require any immediate support, please reach out to a professional, or click here to explore our crisis and community resources. If you’d like to inquire about finding mental health support that’s right for you, a member of our team is happy to assist you. You can email us at contact@layla.care for any inquiries, or complete our intake form to reach out to a member of our care team.
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References and external links
[1] Canada. (2019). Mental Health Research Canada. In Mental Health Research Canada. https://www.mhrc.ca/eating-disorders-infographic
[2] Boak, A., & Hamilton, H. A. (2024). The mental health and well-being of Ontario students, 1991–2023: Findings from the Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS). Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. https://www.camh.ca/-/media/research-files/osduhs-mental-health-and-wellbeing-report_2023.pdf
[3] Nagata, J. M., Ganson, K. T., & Murray, S. B. (2020). Eating disorders in adolescent boys and young men: an update. Current Opinion in Pediatrics, 32(4), 476–481. https://doi.org/10.1097/MOP.0000000000000911
[4] Ghazzawi, H. A., Nimer, L. S., Areen Jamal Haddad, Alhaj, O. A., Amawi, A. T., Pandi-Perumal, S. R., Khaled Trabelsi, Seeman, M. V., & Haitham Jahrami. (2024). A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of the prevalence of self-reported disordered eating and associated factors among athletes worldwide. Journal of Eating Disorders, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-024-00982-5
[5] Crone, C., Fochtmann, L. J., Attia, E., Boland, R., Escobar, J., Fornari, V., Golden, N., Guarda, A., Jackson-Triche, M., Manzo, L., Mascolo, M., Pierce, K., Riddle, M., Seritan, A., Uniacke, B., Zucker, N., Yager, J., Craig, T. J., Hong, S.-H., & Medicus, J. (2023). The American Psychiatric Association Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Eating Disorders. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 180(2), 167–171. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.23180001
[6] Leehr, E. J., Krohmer, K., Schag, K., Dresler, T., Zipfel, S., & Giel, K. E. (2015). Emotion regulation model in binge eating disorder and obesity - a systematic review. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 49(1), 125–134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.12.008
[7] NICE. (2017). Overview | Eating disorders: Recognition and Treatment | Guidance | NICE. In Nice.org.uk. NICE. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng69
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