What does a binge episode feel like?

There is currently no one-size-fits-all reason why people develop binge eating disorder because it can have many different triggers. There is some evidence that people with binge eating disorder may have a genetic component that increases their risk¹.

Causes of binge eating disorder include:

• Genetics – Some people are prewired to have more addictive traits. This has to do with the amount of dopamine (the feel-good chemical) released by the brain.

• Gender – Although 40% of people with binge eating disorder are men, women are still more likely to develop it².

• Weight – People who are overweight or obese are at higher risk of developing binge eating disorder than people at a healthy weight.

• Mental health – Most people with disordered eating have underlying mental health conditions like depression, PTSD, substance abuse, or bipolar disorder.

Just as there are many possible causes, there is also a range of risk factors that can increase a person's chances of developing binge eating disorder.

History of weight problems and dieting

A person who has a history of weight problems and dieting is at a higher risk of developing an eating disorder. This is due, in part, to biology, as your body has a set weight that requires a set number of calories to maintain it.

When someone becomes overweight, they may try to correct the problem by eating less. However, this can cause the brain to release chemicals that instead increase hunger. This can become difficult to control, causing a person to cycle through not eating enough and overeating. Over time, this can trigger regular binge eating.

Trauma, abuse, or PTSD

People who have been through a life-changing experience, like war, rape or sexual abuse, or the death of a loved one, are at higher risk of misusing substances, whether drugs, alcohol, food, or other substances.

Food happens to be one of the most abused "drugs," and in many cases can become addictive. Someone living with untreated trauma is more likely to try and fix how they are feeling in other ways. Food can fill an emotional void and make people feel better in the moment, which can make them eat more and more to block out their pain. If this is followed by guilt or sadness, it can turn into a harmful cycle.

Big life changes

Another risk factor that often goes unnoticed is major life changes. This could be going off to college or moving to a new city. It is especially true in situations where the person has always had someone prepare their food or make choices for them, such as living with family.

If you move into a college dorm, living on a student budget, you may more regularly buy cheaper convenience foods that have a high amount of calories but are low in nutrients. This can trigger your brain to think it is hungry when it is not, causing you to eat even more.

On the other hand, if you are suddenly living alone but you're used to cooking for a full house, you might find yourself eating more due to loneliness or not wanting to waste the family-sized meals you have cooked out of habit. Either way, this can also trigger a domino effect leading to binge eating disorder.

If you are concerned that you or a loved one may be showing some of the signs or symptoms of binge eating disorder, the first step in getting a diagnosis is to talk with a doctor. Even if your doctor is not a specialist in disordered eating, they will be able to refer you to someone who is. This is especially important if your health insurance company only uses certain providers.

The next step is to have an honest conversation with the medical professional about your eating patterns. You won’t be able to get help if you are not willing to speak about it. If a patient is a minor, parents can ask their pediatrician for help.

There are three main criteria for a diagnosis of binge eating disorder set by the ​​Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5):

• One or more incidents a week of binge eating for at least three continuous months.

• The patient is not trying to force the food out, also called purging. This would indicate a different type of eating disorder.

• There are no hormonal imbalances or underlying conditions that could cause binging.

Your doctor will usually do a physical exam and take blood tests to ensure there are no other hormonal, metabolic, or nutritional causes when an eating disorder is suspected. This also enables your doctor to check for diabetes and assess your cardiovascular health.

The binge-purge cycle is a cycle of behaviors, thoughts, and emotions experienced by many people who suffer from the eating disorder bulimia nervosa. A portion of this cycle may also be experienced by people with binge eating disorder.

The cycle looks like this: diet-binge-purge-repeat.

It typically repeats itself over and over, and if you are suffering from bulimia nervosa, you may feel like it's impossible to stop. But understanding this pattern of behavior is one of the best ways to figure out how to stop it and start on the road to recovery.

It is important to recognize that the model above, derived from cognitive-behavioral therapy, shows how a binge cycle is maintained. It does not indicate how the eating disorder first developed.

Every binge cycle has an event or series of events that trigger the cycle. These triggers need not have caused the eating disorder itself—in many cases, the triggering events or emotions are different every time. But these triggers do start a new cycle of bingeing and purging.

Many binges stem from food deprivation. Individuals who diet or restrict their eating, even in subtle ways, set themselves up for binge eating. Food is a basic need and when that need is not met, it is normal to intake a larger than normal amount when you do allow yourself to eat again.

Many people identify specific emotions as triggers for binges, such as sadness, loneliness, guilt, or feelings of helplessness or hopelessness. These emotions, which so frequently are difficult to handle, may be experienced throughout the course of a day or days.

They may be caused by a specific event or series of events, such as an argument with a loved one, criticism at work, or self-criticism. People tend to be more vulnerable to emotional eating when they have been restricting their eating. Regardless of the specific emotion or event, identifying your own triggers is one way to recognize "red flags" which mean you need to do something different.

Recurrent episodes of binge eating, which includes a loss of control (LOC) over eating during the episode, is a key feature of binge eating disorder, or BED. If someone does not have LOC, it could just simply be overeating and is different than BED with LOC.

Binge eating is defined as eating more in a single setting than most people would. Although this definition is very subjective, binges are much larger than a regular meal and can often contain several thousand calories.

Many people describe binges in terms of feeling "out of control" or not really even knowing how much they are eating. Some people describe the experience as being "zoned out" as they're eating — they then look down to find empty boxes/containers.

Binge eating is one of the main behaviors in the binge-purge cycle. It may begin innocently with eating a small portion of food that is typically considered “off-limits.” After eating this portion many people feel guilty and decide to “eat the rest” as they’ve already “blown their diet” and would rather finish the rest of the forbidden food so it won’t be around to tempt them tomorrow.

Alternatively, a binge can begin with eating comfort foods to soothe the negative emotions related to an upsetting event and then continue into a full binge. It can also be your body's way of getting nourishment when you haven't been eating enough food. Many times a binge happens after skipping meals and/or restricting intake.

After a binge, most people feel uncomfortable, or even painfully, full. This feeling goes beyond the fullness you experience after, say, a major holiday meal with family and friends. It's simply the result of eating so much.

Along with these physical pains comes emotional pain, possibly including feelings of embarrassment, shame, guilt, disgust and/or self-criticism. These emotions typically lead to the purge part of the cycle.

For many sufferers, the time span between binging and purging is very short. Purging becomes a way to relieve oneself of the negative feelings (physical and emotional) of the binge.

Most people think of purging as self-induced vomiting, but it can also include laxative and/or diuretic use. Sometimes people use other behaviors, such as exercise, to compensate for the additional calories consumed in a binge.

Some people will have one binge and purge episode and then go into a period of calm. Others may binge and purge multiple times before stopping.

After a binge and purge episode, there may be a period of calm. At this point, a person may resolve to never binge or purge again. He or she may even decide to begin restricting his or her food intake. Unfortunately, this will simply lead to binge eating again.

There are also people who acknowledge that they will likely binge and purge again. They feel hopeless to stop the cycle.

If you are experiencing bingeing and purging, the first thing is to know that recovery is possible. You may be able to apply some strategies on your own. Keep food records to understand your own patterns. Learn some strategies for breaking the cycle. Finally, seek help from a qualified professional.