Causes of Binge Eating Disorder (BED)

Binge eating disorder (BED) is caused by a complex combination of genetic, psychological and sociocultural factors.

The family tie to BED and food addictions
Approximately 95 percent of patients with BED had a parent with BED or substance abuse issues, which underscores the genetic influence and cause of this condition. There are also neurobiological components to loss-of-control eating behaviors and a complex set of hormones influence and determine hunger and satiety cues as well as how we feel, think and behave around food.

Psychological predispositions for BED
Psychological factors can also prime an individual to binge eat. Those most likely to struggle with BED tend to have:

Low self-esteem
Negative body image
Feelings of inadequacy and loneliness.
Binge eating disorder sufferers often struggle with co-occurring mood and anxiety disorders, have experienced some kind of trauma, or struggle to navigate developmental milestones and life changes.

A culture obsessed with body image
The larger cultural narrative around dieting, binge eating and obesity is a prominent sociocultural factor influencing the development of binge eating disorder.

Dieting and weight loss have become synonymous with “healthy living,” while other cultural messages suggest that we have 100 percent control over our eating and weight, or that willpower drives normal eating, weight loss and overall health.

This rhetoric fosters shame and embarrassment for individuals struggling with BED, many of whom are chronic dieters without weight loss success.

[pinkdruid]

I developed a binge eating disorder about 5 years ago, during my first year of college. It’s been hard for me, and I feel a lot of shame having gained about 50lbs. I used to be so thin and fit and had a lot of confidence in my body. But now, when I have bad self-esteem days, I feel like I’ve become this lazy, fat, ugly blob who has no self control or willpower when it comes to food or exercise.

I know the causes behind it.
Growing up my family was always very health conscious and active.
I was sort of the black sheep in that I had athsma, and so exercising was never that enjoyable for me. I associated it with being in pain, feeling like I couldn’t breathe, and being made fun of by other kids for having a slow mile time. I did grow out of it as I got older but I feel like there may still be some part of me that associates exercise with discomfort. I only ever did it because I was made to.
I also had a sweet tooth. I love sweets and I always have. My parents made sure I didn’t have too much. But whenever I got the chance I’d almost always want to overeat.

Also, I have ADHD and am also a pretty anxious person. I’m very shy and kind of paranoid. Food can help calm me down. And part of ADHD is having an imbalance of dopamine. Sugar gives the body dopamine, and so you crave more of it. ADHD can trick you into thinking you need all this sugar to make up for the dopamine you naturally lack and prevent you from feeling satisfied even after you’ve already eaten a lot.

Additionally, ADHD creates problems with impulse control. It can be extremely difficult to resist the urge of something you know will give you an immediate dopamine boost in favor of achieving a long term goal, such as to be thin and feel healthy. It’s really similar to addiction actually.


Still, in spite of all this, I never actually had a PROBLEM until I started college. Away from my family, I felt free to indulge in whatever type of food I wanted, however much I wanted, and also only exercise when I felt like it, which was almost never.

My second year was even worse though. I struggled a lot. I lost my grandmother and my dog. A close friend of mine had an abusive father and I helped him to escape his home after his dad threatened him. I nearly saw someone die on a train. My eardrum almost burst. I was extremely anxious. I didn’t have very many friends in person, and only had a handful of friends online to talk to. I lived completely on my own without any roommates. I was thousands of miles away from my family. My grades started failing. Like…everything just kind of went to shit all at once. I don’t have chronic depression, but I did become very depressed during this time. I never attempted it, but I often thought about su*cide. Nothing brought me any joy…except for one thing.

Food.

For 2 years, after I had to drop out of school due to my poor grades, food was literally the only thing that made me feel a little bit good. It was the only thing that motivated me to get out of bed. To go outside. To do anything really. Was the reward that I’d get. My world felt like it was crumbling around me and as someone who had always been a near straight A student to having failed almost every class and being kicked out, I was going through a full on identity crisis…but at least I could eat a sweet, beautiful piece of cake and for those few moments I’d think “maybe life isn’t so bad. I’d stay alive just to enjoy this”.

But of course that lead to seeking out as much good food as I could. It really became like an addiction.

Now, after 5 years I have climbed out of that dark pit. I’m back in school and getting really good grades. I have new friends. I’m pretty independent. I have a job I like. I’m talking to a girl I really like. Honestly, my life is pretty perfect right now…the only thing I really still struggle with is my binge eating. It’s become a part of my life. I’m trying really hard to do better and fix it. But it’s difficult. And my family doesn’t really seem to understand just how hard this actually is for me. They tell me I just need more will power. They say I’m not trying hard enough…I can feel their disappointment in me. Like, how did this super fit family end up with a fat daughter? I’m ashamed sometimes…


I just want so badly to be free of this but it’s so hard.

[sunset]

The book "30 Days to Stop Overeating" by Harper Daniels takes an interesting mindfulness approach. The mind is so powerful.

[TaYLoRBReaKouT]

I started developing my BED since high school (i think i was 15). I think the factors were a mixing pot of trauma, cultural behavior with food, anxiety and depression

[harryevans]

For me the restrictive mindset and constant need to restrict food to achieve an certain body image can massively increase triggers to binge eat.

[HelloHello-hksx]

I'm always afraid I'll starve again. 😔 I was extremely poor when I was little & didn't have enough to eat. I would even eat non edible things like plastic, cloth, rubber, my hair, skin, garbage, just about anything I could find. One time I ate a whole stick of chapstick cause it "smelled good" & I was hungry. I'd even drink my own urine. My body actually accepted non edibles better than real food cause it was so used to it.
I attacked a school lunch staff cause she caught me eating out of a garbage can. She stopped me & I punched her & almost knocked her out & went back to the garbage can. I was just 6 & punched the hardest I've ever punched.

Starvation is the worst & saddest feeling in the world & I don't want to go back to that, that's why I eat a lot whenever I can. To make up for my past. 😔 I wouldn't wish starvation on pedophiles & murderers.

[AzulEverything]

Ok guys hear me out. When quarantine started I got a job offloading containers of tires. It was like the literal gym, all day for 4 days a week. This meant I wouldn’t eat a lot anymore. And i was able to 100% restrict myself from all junk food containing sugar or excessive calories and fat as well as get full fast when i ate. So i lost 40 pounds in 5 months. But when i finally decided to start eating some of the foods I enjoyed again, i triggered this, and now junk food is the only thing i think about and want. I cant stop it anymore. Why this sudden change in me like this? I was fine.

[HelloHello-hksx]

I get sick a lot but when I'm not I eat a lot cause if I get sick the next day, at least I would have had something in my stomach (it's more damaging to the body when you're sick on an empty stomach, your organs can come up instead since there's no food).

[DepressedFishey]

I wanna get help but I'm scared I don't think I can afford therapy or that it might be too late.

[HelloHello-hksx]

I get sick a lot but sometimes when I'm not sick I eat a lot in case I get sick the next day, that way I'll at least have something in my stomach.

[luisafernandamontanosantoy]

My intuition says I have this, but how do I know if it is actually an eating disorder?

[ГітаЗахир]

What is the hole you try to fill with food ?

[twinspan]

Does anyone know of a Binge Eating Treatment center in the New Orleans area?

[breakmanradio]

Why don't they call it junk food addiction? No one with BED binges on apples and chicken.