YoungMinds: Is Binge Eating Disorder underrepresented in the eating disorder conversation?

YoungMinds is a children’s mental health charity with a clear vision: to see a world where no young person feels alone with their mental health. The YoungMinds blog is a place where young people can share their experiences, use their voice to support others, and contribute their stories to a number of monthly themes.

The YoungMinds Digital Writers Pool is open to anyone aged between 14-25 living in the UK, and Artswork have been encouraging young people currently employed as part of our third Kickstart cohort to contribute their writing to the site.

This month, Publicity Assistant Sophie Jones has responded to the theme of Eating Disorders by producing a piece to spread awareness of Binge Eating Disorder. Read her piece below:

The National Eating Disorder Association describes Binge Eating Disorder as:

“… a severe, life-threatening, and treatable eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food (often very quickly and to the point of discomfort); a feeling of a loss of control during the binge; experiencing shame, distress or guilt afterwards; and not regularly using compensatory measures (e.g., purging) to counter the binge eating.”

Binge Eating Disorder is often under-represented and misunderstood in the wider eating disorder conversation. To help spread awareness and bring a first-hand account of this life-threatening condition, I sat down with a close friend of mine to find out more about their experience.

Do you feel that Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is underrepresented?

E: “When you hear the term “eating disorder” you tend to think of Anorexia or Bulimia, but never really BED. It is a serious condition but, as it doesn’t necessarily involve weight loss, people often go undiagnosed. It needs to be brought to light more and recognised that it is detrimental so that help can be sought and given”.  

Can you tell us how your BED started, and what triggers may have led to it?

E: “For me it started from a very young age and there were a lot of factors that played into it. From eating secretly with my sister to avoid comments from family, to developing complex PTSD, to trying to change the way I look. Some triggers would occur that I didn’t even think possible but now when these arise, I have the tools to deal with them”

Causes of BED are not well understood, and may be due to a variety of risk factors, including:

• Body image 
• Emotional trauma
• Other psychological conditions
• Genetics

What would you say to someone struggling with a binge eating disorder?

E: “I would love others to understand that having BED doesn’t mean you just ‘need to put down the food and lose weight’. Going into treatment, I felt that because of the way I looked I wasn’t ‘sick enough’ to be there and I developed imposter syndrome – but I had to remind myself that I still deserved help.”

What are you learning from your BED recovery process, and what would you say to someone else considering reaching out for help?

E: “While going through treatment and entering the ABA or ED Twelve Step Programme, I have learnt that wanting to recover is down to you and only you. There is a huge support network out there for those who are struggling, but the want and desire to recover must come from within.

It’s scary to admit you have a problem, but you are not alone. There are so many people, like me, who understand what you are going through – the thoughts rushing through your mind, the shame and guilt and control it has over you – and when you are ready help is there.”

Last month the Government introduced a new law meaning that large restaurant chains have to put calories on their menus. How has this affected you? Do you have any advice for young people who are finding this hard?

E: “I find it astonishing that the law was passed, and I feel that isn’t only going to trigger people who already have eating disorders but could also be a tipping point for others. While eating out a couple of days ago, I knew going in what I wanted to eat, but after seeing the calories on the menu my mind started to spin. Luckily, I was with someone who doesn’t have disordered eating and we were able to discuss my irrational thoughts and come to a decision.

For young people finding this hard, my advice would be to try and fight the fear and the shame in your head and voice your concerns as hard as it may be. When eating out, you can request menus that don’t display calorie counts from any staff member”

Opening up about any eating disorder can be a difficult and scary thing to do, but support is out there and there is no need to be ashamed. So many other people feel exactly how you do and have recovered.

For additional help and support:

• https://bedadvice.co.uk/contact/
• https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/ You can also contact this helpline through its online chat function, available on its website. Additionally, there is an option to send a text message if you are in crisis by texting NEDA to 741741; a trained volunteer from the Crisis Text Line will get in touch with you.
• Read more about the NICE recommendations for treating eating problems
• ABA or ED Twelve Step Programmes: https://www.addictiveeatersanonymous.org/online-meetings https://www.addictiveeatersanonymous.org/

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mental health Mental Health and Wellbeing Wellbeing youngminds