Physical and Psychological Effects of Binge Eating Disorder

Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is characterised by regular episodes of binge eating (eating a large amount of food in a short amount of time), with a sense of a loss of control. [1]

Binge eating can affect the body in a number of ways. These effects are related to patterns of eating and how the body responds over time and can be experienced by people in all body shapes and sizes. Everyone’s experience is different, and not everyone will have the same health concerns.

Physical effects

Some people may notice the following physical effects associated with binge eating:

• Changes in energy levels, including feeling tired, sluggish [2], or difficulties with getting restful sleep [3]

• Blood sugar and insulin changes, which can affect how your body uses energy [3, 4]

• Elevated cholesterol, triglycerides or blood pressure [3, 4]

• Digestive concerns, such as bloating, abdominal pain, reflux, or constipation/diarrhoea [5, 2]

• Disrupted hunger and fullness cues, making it harder to recognise when you feel hungry or satisfied, or being able to respond to these cues [6, 7]

• Hormonal disturbances, including irregular menstrual cycles and Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome – PMOS (previously Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome – PCOS) [8]

Over time, some people may also develop longer-term health concerns, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and fertility issues [9].

Pyschological effects

Some people may notice the following psychological effects when they have Binge Eating Disorder:

• Anxiety [4, 10], including worries about food, eating, or being judged

• Low mood or depression [4, 10]

• Low self- esteem and poor body image [11]

• Feelings of shame, disgust or guilt [12], particularly following a binge

• Emotional distress and difficulties regulating emotions [4, 10]

• Suicidal thoughts and increased risk of suicide [13]

It is important to remember that binge eating is often used as a way someone may cope with stress or difficult emotions. It may feel like it helps in the moment, but can leave the person feeling worse.

If you are concerned that someone you love may be engaging in binge eating behaviours, some things to look out for in addition to the above are:

• Distress around food, eating, or body image

• Avoiding eating with others or social situations involving food

• Large amounts of unaccounted for food at home

• Hoarding food or hiding food

• Rapid changes in weight

It’s important to remember that:

• These health effects are complex and influenced by many factors, not just eating patterns or weight

• Support and treatment can help improve both physical and psychological health and wellbeing

• Treatment focuses on helping you reduce or stop the binge eating, not on changing your body size

If any of this resonates with you, or with someone you care about, support is available. A healthcare professional can work with you to understand what’s happening and find supportive, individualised care.

Visit the InsideOut Treatment Database to find out about more treatment options, and go to your GP for support and referral.

InsideOut's eClinic also offers free, confidential online treatment for people experiencing eating disorders and disordered eating behaviours, including BED. There's no referral required and no cost — you can access it in your own time, from anywhere in Australia.

• American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. 5th ed., text rev. Washington (DC): American Psychiatric Association; 2022.

• Romano KA, Heron KE, Smith KE, Crosby RD, Engel SG, Wonderlich SA, et al. Somatic symptoms and binge eating in women's daily lives. J Psychosom Res. 2020;135:110161. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2020.110161.

• Giel KE, Bulik CM, Fernandez-Aranda F, et al. Binge eating disorder. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2022;8:16. doi:10.1038/s41572-022-00344-y.

• Udo T, Grilo CM. Psychiatric and medical correlates of DSM-5 eating disorders in a nationally representative sample of adults in the United States. Int J Eat Disord. 2019;52(1):42–50.

• Cremonini F, et al. Associations among binge eating behavior patterns and gastrointestinal symptoms: a population-based study. Int J Obes. 2009;33(3):342–353.

• Woo JM, Lee GE, Lee JH. Attentional bias for high-calorie food cues by the level of hunger and satiety in individuals with binge eating behaviors. Front Neurosci. 2023;17:1149864. doi:10.3389/fnins.2023.1149864.

• Cobbaert L, Mitchell PB, Hay P, et al. Self-reported interoceptive sensibility across eating disorder symptoms: associations with sociodemographic factors. J Eat Disord. 2026;14:55. doi:10.1186/s40337-026-01530-z.

• Kimmel MC, Ferguson EH, Zerwas S, Bulik CM, Meltzer-Brody S. Obstetric and gynecologic problems associated with eating disorders. Int J Eat Disord. 2016;49(3):260–275.

• Olguin P, Fuentes M, Gabler G, et al. Medical comorbidity of binge eating disorder. Eat Weight Disord. 2017;22(1):13–26. doi:10.1007/s40519-016-0313-5.

• Da Luz FQ, Mohsin M, Jana TA, Marinho LS, Santos ED, Lobo I, et al. An examination of the relationships between eating-disorder symptoms, difficulties with emotion regulation, and mental health in people with binge eating disorder. Behav Sci (Basel). 2023;13(3):234. doi:10.3390/bs13030234.

• Lewer M, Bauer A, Hartmann AS, Vocks S. Different facets of body image disturbance in binge eating disorder: a review. Nutrients. 2017;9(12):1294. doi:10.3390/nu9121294.

• Anderson LM, Hall LMJ, Crosby RD, Crow SJ, Berg KC, Durkin NE, et al. “Feeling fat,” disgust, guilt, and shame: preliminary evaluation of a mediation model of binge-eating in adults with higher-weight bodies. Body Image. 2022;42:32–42. doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.05.008.

• Brown KL, LaRose JG, Mezuk B. The relationship between body mass index, binge eating disorder and suicidality. BMC Psychiatry. 2018;18:196. doi:10.1186/s12888-018-1766-z.