Eating Disorders
Binge Eating Disorder
Binge-eating disorder (BED) is an eating disorder similar to Bulimia Nervosa as it involves recurring episodes of binge eating. However, unlike Bulimia Nervosa, children and adolescents do not perform compensatory behaviours to control their body weight. These episodes also often occur in private away from others, as children often feel depressed, ashamed, and guilty for bingeing.
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), Binge Eating Disorder is diagnosed if the following criteria are met:
Ψ Binge eating episodes of large amounts of food within a two hour period, without the ability to control eating
Ψ Binge-eating episodes are
Ψ Eating much more rapidly than usual
Ψ Eating until uncomfortably full
Ψ Eating when not hungry
Ψ Eating alone due to feelings of shame
Ψ Feeling disgusted with oneself after
Ψ Distress associated with binge eating
Ψ Occurs once a week for 3 months
Ψ Not associated with any compensatory behaviour
Binge-eating episodes are typically accompanied by negative feelings, and can be triggered by stress. Exact causes of the disorder are unknown, but risks factors include body dissatisfaction and a history of being overweight.
Addressing Binge Eating Disorder
Interventions for BED includes Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT). Similar to CBT-E, CBT aims to address thoughts related to food that contributes to symptoms of BED, and has been shown to be effective for reducing binge eating in both online and group settings. DBT aims to help children identify emotional triggers related to binge-eating, coupled with strategies to adopt prior to binge eating episodes.