Written by: Bridget Shertzer, MS, LPC
Site Director at The Renfrew Center of Philadelphia – Center City
Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is one of the most common eating disorders in the United States—yet it’s also one of the most misunderstood. Often overlooked, dismissed, or masked by shame, BED affects people across all genders, sizes, ages, and backgrounds. At the Renfrew Center, we believe that raising awareness with compassion can be a powerful first step toward healing.
Why We Need to Talk About Binge Eating Disorder
When we talk openly about BED, we begin to challenge the stigma. Without awareness, BED often hides in plain sight—misread as “just emotional eating,” “a lack of discipline,” or “a dieting issue.” In truth, it’s none of those things.
BED is a serious mental health condition, and it deserves the same attention, care, and validation as any other eating disorder. Creating conversation not only educates the public; it also gives people permission to seek help without guilt or shame.
How Binge Eating Disorder Shows Up in Everyday Life
BED is characterized by episodes of eating large amounts of food in a short period of time, often accompanied by feelings of distress, guilt, or loss of control. But BED doesn’t always look the way we think it will. It doesn’t always involve “junk food,” and it doesn’t only happen in private or at night. It can show up in subtle, everyday patterns:
- Skipping meals during the day, then feeling out of control in the evening
- Eating rapidly, without really tasting or enjoying food
- Feeling disconnected or numb during eating episodes
- Using food to cope with stress, anxiety, boredom, or loneliness
- Experiencing guilt or shame afterward, and resolving to “start over tomorrow”
Importantly, not all episodes of overeating are signs of BED. What differentiates BED is the emotional toll and the sense of lost control – marked by distress, secrecy, and a recurring cycle of symptoms.
LISTEN: Food, Feelings & Freedom – Unpacking Binge Eating Disorder with Renfrew Alum Susie Denby
Emotions, Diet Culture, and Disconnection
Many people with BED carry deep emotional pain—often rooted in trauma, neglect, or long-standing struggles with self-worth. Food may become a source of comfort, safety, or escape in the absence of other coping tools. Over time, this relationship with food can become tangled with shame, secrecy, and self-criticism.
In addition, we live in a culture that glorifies dieting, judges eating for pleasure, and moralizes food choices. Diet culture teaches us to override hunger cues, ignore satisfaction, and label certain foods as “bad” or “unhealthy.” For many people, this sets the stage for a restrict-binge cycle: restriction during the day (or week), and then bingeing once the body and/or brain can’t maintain deprivation any longer.
BED is not a failure of discipline—it’s often a response to unmet needs, both physical and emotional. When we look deeper, we find a human being trying to feel okay.
READ MORE: Social Media & Eating Disorders: Biggest Challenges & 4 Critical Tips for Navigating Them
Recognizing the Signs
If you or someone you care about might be struggling with BED, it’s important to look at the full picture. Not just behaviors, but feelings and patterns over time. Some signs to gently pay attention to include:
- Eating large amounts of food even when not physically hungry
- Eating in secret or hiding evidence of eating episodes
- Feeling numb, out of control, or disconnected while eating
- Frequent dieting or “starting over” without sustainable change
- Intense body or food guilt, shame, or self-criticism
It’s also important to know what BED is not: it’s not laziness, it’s not a choice, and it’s not about a person’s body size. In fact, BED affects people across the weight spectrum and is frequently missed in individuals in larger bodies due to bias and assumptions in both society and healthcare.
If you’re concerned that someone in your life may be struggling with BED, the most helpful thing you can offer is compassion without pressure. Try to focus on how they’re feeling rather than what they’re eating. You might say something like, “I’ve noticed you’ve seemed overwhelmed lately. I’m here if you ever want to talk.” Avoid commenting on weight, food, or body image — even well-meaning remarks can feel like shaming. Just showing up with openness, curiosity, and care can go a long way in helping someone feel less alone.
READ MORE: “They Don’t Look Like They Have an Eating Disorder”
What Recovery Can Look Like
Recovery from BED is possible. At the Renfrew Center, we approach treatment with warmth, clinical expertise, and a focus on the whole person. This treatment often includes:
- Therapy: Individual, group, and family therapy can help address the emotional roots of BED, including trauma, anxiety, or self-esteem struggles.
- Nutrition support: Working with a registered dietitian to rebuild trust in your body and nourish yourself consistently without restriction.
- Skills-building: Learning tools and strategies for coping with distress, setting boundaries, regulating emotions, and building a healthier relationship with your body.
- Community: Emerging from isolation and connecting with others who understand your experience can be incredibly healing.
Recovery is not about perfection, it’s about progress. It’s about cultivating a more compassionate relationship with food, body, and self. That might mean no longer bingeing, but it also means letting go of shame, listening to your needs, and discovering new ways to care for yourself.
Conclusion
BED is real. It’s valid. And it’s treatable. If you recognize yourself or someone you love in this article, know that you are not alone—and that help is available. By speaking up, listening without judgment, and centering compassion, we create a world where no one has to suffer in silence.
If this blog resonated with you, consider sharing it with someone who may benefit. Start a conversation, speak up when you hear misinformation, and continue learning. Together, we can ensure that everyone affected by BED has access to the validation, support, and care they deserve.
Struggling with disordered eating or body image? The Renfrew Center provides compassionate care for all bodies. Contact us today to get started.
If you, a loved one, or a patient is experiencing an eating disorder, help is available. Contact The Renfrew Center’s team by phone at 1-(800) 736-3739 or complete our online form.
