In the first national study of individuals with eating disorders, binge eating was found to be more prevalent than anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa.
Binge eating, often associated with depression, is a dangerous disorder that is often overlooked, said Marc Lerro, executive director of the Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy and Action.
"It appears that with binge eating, it's a different kind of mechanism in the brain compared to anorexia, which is like an obsessive compulsive process," Lerro said. "The typical behavior is that someone will eat until they are physically uncomfortable and continue eating without sense of satisfaction."
Estimates show that as much as 5 percent of the general population is affected by the disorder, said Linda LaSalle, coordinator of Educational Services at University Health Services. She said the disorder is "characterized by recurrent binge eating without the regular use of compensatory measures to counter the binge eating."
She added it is an issue for both men and women.
The new study shows that binge eating disorder can lead to other eating disorders and destructive behaviors, Lerro said.
"Some research has shown a correlation between binge eating disorder and the abuse of alcohol or drugs and even sexual promiscuity," Lerro said.
Other serious complications associated with the disorder include obesity, personal distress and guilt over eating behaviors, LaSalle said.
The government-funded study, which was released by Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital, looked at a national sample of more than 9,000 households, Lerro said.
"What makes this survey important is that it is statistically representative of U.S. population," Lerro said. "This shows a cross-section of the United States, and this is the first time eating disorders have been studied on a national statistical representative level."
