How It's Complicated works
1
Find your therapistUse our free matching service for personal recommendations, or browse our network of 2,500+ therapists yourself.
2
Create your free accountSign up in under 2 minutes. All you need is an email and a password, and you're ready to go.
3
Start therapyReach out to your therapist and book your first session within 24 hours. Online or in person, in 60+ languages.
Learn more about binge eating disorder
Binge eating disorder (BED) is a recognised eating disorder characterised by recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food in a short period, accompanied by a sense of loss of control, and followed by significant distress, guilt, or shame. Recognised in the DSM-5 as a standalone diagnosis, BED is distinct from bulimia nervosa in that it does not involve regular compensatory behaviours such as purging or excessive exercise. It is the most common eating disorder in adults and is associated with considerable psychological suffering, regardless of body weight.
Binge eating disorder is often kept secret, partly because of the shame associated with episodes. The pattern tends to develop gradually.
Common signs
- Recurrent episodes of eating a significantly large amount of food in a defined period, faster than usual and beyond the point of fullness
- A clear sense of lacking control during episodes
- Eating alone because of embarrassment about the amount consumed
- Feeling disgusted, depressed, or intensely guilty after an episode
- Marked distress about binge eating, even when it is not happening
- Episodes occurring at least once a week, on average, over three months
Other common experiences
- Eating in response to emotional states rather than hunger, including stress, loneliness, boredom, or anxiety
- A cycle of restriction and bingeing, where dieting triggers further episodes
- Low mood or shame between episodes that does not lift completely
BED responds well to psychological treatment, particularly approaches that work with the emotional and cognitive patterns driving episodes rather than focusing on food rules or restriction.
- CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) CBT for eating disorders targets the beliefs, emotional triggers, and behavioural cycles that sustain binge eating, building more flexible and sustainable responses to difficult states.
- DBT (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy) DBT is particularly effective when bingeing functions as a way to manage intense or overwhelming emotions, building skills in distress tolerance and regulation.
- CFT (Compassion-focused therapy) CFT addresses the shame and self-criticism that typically follow binge episodes and often drive further cycles, replacing the shame loop with a more compassionate internal response.
- Psychodynamic therapy Psychodynamic work explores the deeper emotional and relational patterns underlying binge eating, including earlier experiences that may shape the relationship with food and the body.
It's Complicated is a therapist-founded mental health platform connecting clients with verified practitioners across Europe and globally, in over 60 languages. We work with over 2,500 vetted therapists, with in-person availability in Berlin, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Lisbon, Vienna, and other major cities, alongside online sessions worldwide. It's Complicated is free to use, and you pay your chosen therapist directly at rates they set.
Finding a therapist who understands eating disorders without defaulting to diet culture or weight-focused advice takes a more careful search. Our matching service is built to remove that friction. You complete a short survey, our psychologists combine data-driven insights with human judgement to identify the right therapists for your situation, and you choose from a shortlist of strong candidates. You can also browse our directory directly if you'd prefer to choose yourself.
Get matched with a therapist who specialises in binge eating disorder, or browse the directory.
