Signs of Binge Eating Disorder
Some of the more common signs of binge eating disorder are:
Behavioural signs
- Buying lots of food
- Organising life around bingeing episodes
- Hoarding food
- Eating very rapidly
- Eating when not hungry
- Eating until uncomfortably full
- Avoiding eating around others
- Social withdrawal and isolation
- Irritability
- Mood swings
- Compromise of education and employment plans
Psychological signs
- Spending a lot or most of their time thinking about food
- A sense of being out of control around food, or a loss of control over eating
- Feeling anxious and tense, especially over eating in front of others
- Low confidence and self-esteem
- Feelings of shame and guilt after bingeing
- Other mental illnesses, such as depression or anxiety
Physical signs
- Tiredness
- Difficulty sleeping
- Weight gain
- Bloating
- Constipation
- Stomach pain
- Other stomach problems
- Poor skin condition
Possible long-term effects of binge eating disorder
Like any eating disorder, binge eating disorder can have long-term physical effects, some of which may be permanent. These include:
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Heart disease
- Type 2 diabetes
- Difficulty conceiving and infertility
- Joint and back pain
Issue date: September 2017 Review date: September 2020 Version 2.0 Sources used to create this information are available by contacting Beat. We welcome your feedback on our information resources.