Binge Eating Disorder (BED)
The most common eating disorder — recurrent loss-of-control eating episodes — requiring screening before weight treatment.
Binge eating disorder is defined by recurring episodes of eating unusually large amounts with a felt loss of control, plus marked distress — without the compensatory purging of bulimia. It is the most prevalent eating disorder, frequently co-occurs with higher weight, and often hides behind "no willpower" self-diagnosis.
Its presence reshapes good treatment: evidence-based care is psychological first (CBT leads), sometimes with medication specifically indicated for BED, and weight-loss intervention is coordinated around it rather than substituted for it. GLP-1 drugs show early promise on binge frequency in studies, but a weight program that never asked about bingeing is a screening failure. Honest disclosure at intake — ours ask — routes patients to care that treats the actual condition.
This glossary entry is general information, not medical advice, and is written to be consistent with FDA prescribing information and primary trial publications as of its last review. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider for personal medical decisions.
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