EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH
Binge eating disorder?
Binge eating disorder is a serious eating disorder involving repeated episodes of eating large amounts of food while feeling unable to stop or control how much is eaten. These episodes can cause significant distress and may be followed by guilt, shame, or embarrassment.
Binging can be a response to a variety of activating events such as food rules/moralizing food as good or bad, intense emotions, and body image distress. A common misconception is that binge eating disorder does not involve compensatory behaviors, such as restriction, vomiting, or excessive exercise.
If you or someone you know is in danger of hurting themselves or someone else—or if there’s any type of health emergency—please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
How binge eating disorder might show up
Someone with binge eating disorder may eat an unusually large amount of food in a short period and feel unable to slow down or stop. Episodes may happen privately because of embarrassment or fear of judgment.
Binge eating disorder can affect people of different ages, backgrounds, identities, and body sizes. Because the condition is not always visible, someone may struggle for a long time before others recognize that they need support.
If you or someone you know is in danger of hurting themselves or someone else—or if there’s any type of health emergency—please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Recognizing the warning signs of binge eating disorder
Signs of binge eating disorder may include:
- Eating unusually large amounts of food in a short period.
- Feeling unable to control what or how much is eaten.
- Eating more quickly than usual.
- Eating when not physically hungry.
- Eating until feeling painfully full.
- Eating alone or in secret because of embarrassment.
- Hiding food or food containers.
- Feeling guilt, shame, sadness or distress after eating.
- Avoiding social activities that involve food.
- Becoming increasingly preoccupied with food, eating, weight or body image.
Someone does not need to display every warning sign to benefit from professional support.
How binge eating disorder can affect health
Binge eating disorder can affect both physical and emotional wellbeing. It may contribute to digestive discomfort, disrupted sleep, and other health concerns. People may also experience anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, isolation, or substance use concerns.
The shame associated with binge eating may make it difficult to ask for help. Compassionate care focuses on understanding the full experience of the person—not blaming them or focusing on weight.
What comprehensive treatment looks like
Rosecrance Therapies provides compassionate, evidence-based care for adults experiencing binge eating disorder and other forms of disordered eating. Our multidisciplinary team helps clients build healthier relationships with food, movement, and themselves through treatment designed to support lasting recovery.
Our approach emphasizes collaboration, flexibility, and meeting each person where they are. Treatment may incorporate dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), radically open dialectical behavior therapy (RO-DBT), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). We also promote an “all foods fit” philosophy and help clients reconnect with movement in a joyful, non-disordered way.
Services may include:
- Comprehensive assessments: Thorough evaluations to understand each client’s symptoms, goals, and treatment needs.
- Individual therapy: Personalized treatment focused on eating disorder recovery, body image, emotional regulation and sustainable coping skills.
- Nutrition support: Collaborative nutrition counseling and meal support designed to reduce anxiety around eating and establish balanced, flexible eating patterns.
- Virtual intensive outpatient program (VIOP): Structured treatment combining group therapy, individual therapy, nutrition support, and psychiatric care for adults in Illinois and Indiana.
- In person intensive outpatient program (IOP): Structured treatment combining group therapy, individual therapy, nutrition support, and psychiatric care for adults in the Chicagoland area.
- Outpatient recovery groups: Virtual therapy groups providing education, skill development and peer support while reinforcing recovery skills.
- Psychiatric services: Medication evaluation and management when appropriate as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.
Why seeking help matters
Without treatment, binge eating patterns and the emotions surrounding them may become more established over time. Seeking treatment can reduce distress, and support long-term recovery. It is never too late to ask for help.
We believe recovery is possible. With compassionate, evidence-based treatment, people can strengthen coping skills, reduce binge eating behaviors, and rebuild their relationship with food and movement.
Find support at Rosecrance Therapies
Eating disorder recovery looks different for everyone. At Rosecrance Therapies, we provide compassionate, evidence-based care designed around each person’s needs, experiences and goals.
Rosecrance Therapies’ intensive outpatient program (IOP) for eating disorders is led by a team of experienced eating disorder professionals, including therapists and dietitians. The program combines group therapy, individual therapy, nutrition counseling and meal support, as well as medical and psychiatric monitoring.
Using evidence-based approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), our team helps clients address eating disorder symptoms while building a healthier relationship with food, movement and themselves.
We offer a virtual IOP option for individuals residing in Illinois and Indiana, as well as an in-person option for those seeking care in the Chicagoland area.
You don’t have to know exactly what type of care you need before reaching out.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about binge eating disorders
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No. Many people occasionally eat past comfortable fullness. Binge eating disorder involves recurring episodes accompanied by a sense of lost control and significant distress.
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Both conditions can involve episodes of eating large amounts of food while feeling a loss of control. Bulimia also involves repeated behaviors intended to compensate for eating, such as vomiting, misusing medications or exercising excessively. These behaviors tend to occur less frequently in binge eating disorder.
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Yes. Binge eating disorder can affect people across the body-size spectrum. Appearance alone cannot determine whether someone has an eating disorder or how seriously it may be affecting them.
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Treatment commonly combines therapy, nutrition support, and medical or psychiatric care when appropriate. At Rosecrance Therapies, treatment may incorporate DBT, RO-DBT and ACT to help clients understand eating patterns, strengthen distress tolerance, and develop sustainable coping skills. The type and intensity of care depend on each person’s needs.
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Yes. Recovery is possible with appropriate treatment and support. People can learn to recognize triggers, build effective coping skills and a more flexible relationship with food.
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Choose a calm, private time to express your concern. Focus on changes you have noticed such as food avoidance, negative comments about food or body image, and social isolation, rather than their weight or appearance. Listen without judgment and encourage them to speak with a healthcare or eating disorder professional.
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Together, these new programs reflect Rosecrance’s ongoing commitment to expanding evidence-based, compassionate care for individuals on the path toward recovery. Call us today at 312.239.5200 or contact us online to schedule a confidential screening or learn more about our mental health IOP or eating disorder IOP. Partnering treatment providers can also refer clients needing a higher level of care to these groups by calling the number above or making a referral through our website.