Indulging in a few extra helpings at a holiday celebration or other special occasion is not uncommon. But a teen who expresses guilt, shame, or feels out of control with their eating and participates in recurring binges, could be suffering with binge eating disorder. With treatment from a team of medical experts, dietitians, and mental health professionals, teens can learn to build a healthy relationship with food and their bodies.
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Clinically reviewed by Kara Becker, LMFT, CEDs, National Director of Eating Disorder Programs
Table of Contents
What is Binge Eating Disorder?
Binge eating disorder (BED) is an eating disorder characterized by eating large amounts of food in a short amount of time, beyond what a typical person might consume during the same period. These binges usually take place within a timeframe of two hours, and are followed by feelings of anxiety, shame, and guilt.
Teens with binge eating disorder use food as a source of calm or comfort. These feelings can cause them to lose control over their relationship with food. Other associated behaviors include eating very rapidly, eating past the point of being full, eating when not hungry, and eating alone.
Unlike bulimia nervosa, those with binge eating disorders do not follow their binge eating by purging the food. People who struggle with bulimia try to avoid any weight gain that could occur due to their binges by vomiting, misusing laxatives or diuretics, fasting, excessive exercise, or a combination of these methods.
Is Binge Eating Disorder Common?
According to the National Eating Disorders Association, binge eating disorder second only to Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorders, as the most common eating disorder in the US. BED impacts around 2.7 percent of women and 1.7 percent of men.
While BED is more common in adults, it is estimated that between 1 to 3 percent of adolescents are affected.
What Causes Teen Binge Eating Disorder in Adolescence?
The cause of teen binge eating disorder can vary from teen to teen, but a mix of biological, environmental, and psychological factors can all contribute. Eating disorders, including binge eating disorder, can run in families. According to the National Library of Medicine, one study revealed that among children who exhibited behaviors of eating without hunger by age 7, BMI, anxiety, depression, dietary restraint, emotional disinhibition, and body dissatisfaction predicted binge eating at age 15.
Children can develop negative or positive relationships with food by observing their parents’ attitude toward food. Living in a stressful home life or hearing negative comments from family members about weight or body shape can have a tremendous impact on a teen’s body image and relationship with food.
Adolescents could have a greater risk for developing binge eating disorder if they experience:
- Prior trauma, such as physical or sexual abuse, or neglect
- Bullying or teasing about their weight
- Stressful environments at home or school
- Negative self-image
- Frequent or extreme dieting
Food can become a source of comfort for teens who struggle with body image and low self-esteem, however these feelings of comfort are soon replaced with guilt and shame. Therefore, adolescents and teenagers with binge eating disorder experience greater rates of depression.
Binge Eating Disorder in Teen Males
There is a common misconception that eating disorders only occur in females. However, 1 in 3 people struggling with an eating disorder is male. Additionally, 6.6 million US males will struggle with an eating disorder at some point in their lives. Males account for 43 percent of binge eating disorder cases.
Sadly, males are less likely to be diagnosed for an eating disorder and are less likely to seek treatment than females. Research finds that stigma and shame are frequent barriers for accessing treatment. Therefore, the prevalence of males who have an eating disorder may be much higher than statistics show due to underdiagnosis and misdiagnosis.
When looking for signs and symptoms of adolescent BED it can be helpful to observe the behaviors that accompany a child’s eating than the amount of food they are eating. Does your child express that they feel out of control or guilty when eating? Do they feel extreme shame after their binge? Recognizing the signs and symptoms of binge eating disorder listed below can help you determine if your child could benefit from a medical evaluation.
A teen could be diagnosed with binge eating disorder if they display three or more of the following behaviors:
Behavioral Signs of Teen Eating Disorders
- Skipping meals or eating at unusual times, such as late at night
- Eating unusually large amounts of food in a short amount of time
- Hiding food in bedrooms or around the house
- Eating rapidly and beyond the point of feeling full during binge episodes
- Eating alone or in secret
- Feeling distressed, ashamed, or guilty about binging
- Frequent dieting
Physical Symptoms of Teen Binge Eating Disorder
- The binge eating is not followed by purging
- Feeling physical discomfort after binge eating
- The binge eating occurs, on average, at least once a week for 3 months
- Feeling tired
- Difficulty sleeping
- Bloating, constipation, or development of food intolerances
- Gastrointestinal issues
Why Teen Binge Eating Disorder Treatment Is Important
Food can become a source of comfort for teens who struggle with body image and low self-esteem, however these feelings of comfort are soon replaced with guilt and shame. Therefore, adolescents and teenagers with binge eating disorder experience greater rates of depression.
Teens with binge eating disorder are at higher risk for depressive mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and substance use disorder. Additionally, teens are at risk of several medical conditions, including:
- High cholesterol
- Joint pain
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Some types of cancer
- Gallbladder disease
- High blood pressure
Teen Binge Eating Disorder Treatment at Newport Academy
Because binge eating disorder can lead to several undesirable health problems, and often coincides with other mental health conditions, teen binge eating disorder treatment is an effective way to address the underlying cause of the binge eating. Teens who undergo binge eating disorder treatment at Newport Academy receive a personalized treatment plan that includes medical care, a variety of therapeutic modalities, and academic support.
Our team of medical and psychiatric professionals, as well as registered dietitians work together to help your teen learn to build a healthy relationship with food and their bodies and overcome the guilt and shame that keeps them from fully enjoying life. Our binge eating and mental health programming could include a combination of the following therapeutic modalities:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is one of the most effective approaches in helping teens heal from eating disorders. Teenagers learn to recognize the error messages their brain is sending about their body and their weight, and develop new ways of responding to them. By shifting their thinking patterns, teens begin experiencing more positive emotions, which translate into positive behaviors.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
DBT skills help teens stop destructive behaviors and work on the negative thinking patterns that led to the particular behavior. The goal of DBT for teens with BED is to learn the skills they need to cope with and change unhealthy behaviors. The four main elements of DBT are distress tolerance, mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, and emotion regulation.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT can help teens with binge eating disorder by practicing self-compassion and accepting themselves as they are. ACT therapy encourages engagement in adolescent eating disorder treatment, leading to more positive outcomes.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a technique used to heal the deep wounds of trauma. Individuals with trauma are more likely to develop eating disorders than those without trauma, therefore EMDR has proven to be an effective form of treatment. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR helps resolve and release traumatic experiences through specific techniques involving eye movement and memory. Therefore, an advantage of using EMDR is that the person isn’t re-traumatized by discussing all the details of the trauma.
Experiential Therapeutic Modalities
Teen binge eating disorder treatment plans will include a wide range of experiential therapies, as part of their individualized plan. Depending on location, these could include outdoor Adventure Therapy like hiking and kayaking, art and music therapy, yoga and meditation, and Mixed Martial Arts. Through participation in these activities teens build a deeper connection with their own physical strength and abilities, resulting in improved self-esteem and self-image.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is at risk for binge eating disorder?
Anyone of any gender, age, or race is at risk of binge eating disorder. There is a misconception that only females have eating disorders, but this is far from reality. In fact, over 40 percent of those with binge eating disorder are males.
What medications are used to treat binge eating?
Certain antidepressants, which target brain chemicals, are sometimes prescribed. These medications stabilize and boost mood, which can reduce the urge to binge eat.
What's the difference between bulimia and binge eating?
Someone who binge eats may feel extreme guilt and shame after consuming large amounts of food, but they do not follow their binge with a forced purge. A person with bulimia is concerned about the weight gain that could occur as a result of their binge eating episodes. Therefore, the binges are followed with a purge either through vomiting, taking laxatives, or other methods.
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