Binge Eating Disorder Diagnosis
A suggested binge eating disorder diagnosis takes into account the frequency and duration of binge eating episodes and the individual's feelings and attitudes towards their behaviour.
A medical doctor will refer to a list of symptoms (or diagnostic criteria) to help them decide if someone has binge eating disorder.
Technically speaking, binge eating disorder (which has been recognised only recently in comparision with anorexia and bulimia) currently falls under the umbrella term Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS), as defined by the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR).
Diagnostic criteria from The World Health Organisation's International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10) are most commonly used in Europe, but currently the ICD does not include binge eating disorder as an official diagnostic category.
However, the DSM (generally used by health professionals in the United States) has suggested some criteria for diagnosing binge eating disorder, although it maintains that more research is needed before the disorder can stand alone as a mental health condition.
Suggested diagnostic criteria for binge eating disorder
(Adapted from DSM-IV-TR)
A. Recurring episodes of binge eating. The two characteristics of a binge eating episode are:
(1) Eating a much larger amount of food than most people would consider normal under similar circumstances and within the same time frame (eating may continue for several hours).
(2) While eating, there is a feeling of loss of control over the amount of food or type of food being consumed.
B. Binge eating episodes are related to at least three of the following:
(1) eating until feeling uncomfortably full.
(2) eating large quantities of food when not even hungry.
(3) eating noticeably faster than is considered normal.
(4) eating alone due to embarrassment of overeating.
(5) feelings of disgust, depression, or guilt after a binge.
C. There is obvious distress concerning binge eating behaviour.
D. On average, binge eating takes place twice weekly, and has done so for 6 months.
E. There are no recurring efforts to compensate for binge eating, such as purging or excessive exercise. The disorder occurs at times other than during episodes of anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa.