Food insecurity—or not having access to enough quality food—is a significant risk factor for binge eating disorder, according to a new systematic review published earlier this year.
Binge eating disorder involves regularly eating a large amount of food over a short period of time. People with binge eating disorder feel that they can’t stop eating; they often eat rapidly and in secret. The condition is like bulimia, except the person affected doesn’t try to compensate for their binge eating by vomiting, using laxatives, or exercising excessively.
Binge eating disorder has been prevalent in the U.S. for decades, but health practitioners have not always recognized the condition. Just 10 years ago, it was added to The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the book that health providers and researchers use to classify mental health conditions.
This latest review, published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders, combined data from 20 studies to investigate the connection between food insecurity and binge eating disorder. Researchers found that adults classified as “food insecure” were 2.7 times more likely to develop binge eating disorder compared to adults classified as “food secure.”
What’s going on here?
Researchers believe that not having access to consistent meals can lead to cognitive, behavioral, and emotional changes in the brain, including an obsession with food. Someone who is hungry and doesn’t have enough food is more likely to fantasize about their next meal. This fixation on food increases the risk of binge eating once food is available.
This new review is one report in the growing body of evidence on binge eating disorders. Another recent review established that binge eating disorder affects young people at the same rates as anorexia and bulimia, two more well-known eating disorders.
Researchers have also been evaluating treatments for binge eating disorder. A systematic review published in 2021 summarized the evidence to date on potential treatments focusing on food-related impulsivity, which are emotional or involuntary urges to eat even when you’re not hungry.
The analysis found that a range of interventions can be effective in helping to address binge eating episodes, including talk therapy and medications that target the areas of the brain related to appetite and rewards. Other successful interventions included computer-assisted cognitive training that worked on building self-control and neurological interventions that used brain stimulation to help improve impulsivity control and reduce cravings.
So, what should you do if you know someone who binges?
First and foremost, avoid commenting on the person’s diet or appearance. Plan a time to have a conversation where you can express your worries about their health and offer your assistance. Be sure to listen to their struggles and consider encouraging them to seek treatment. If food insecurity is a problem for them, help brainstorm solutions to help them secure a steady source of food; options may include signing up for public assistance programs or visiting a local food bank.
The take-home message: Binge eating disorder is a substantial problem in the U.S. today, and food insecurity increases the risk of binge eating. The good news is the evidence shows there are effective treatments to address this condition.
