Recent reports suggest that obesity has reached epidemic levels in the UK.

A fact that isn’t widely recognized is that a number of those that meet criteria to be diagnosed as clinically obese will be suffering from a classified eating disorder: Binge Eating Disorder.

As with the possibly more widely recognized eating disorders, Anorexia and Bulimia, Binge Eating Disorder is developed as a coping mechanism. Engaged to assist with difficulties such as emotional distress, loneliness, insecure attachment and low self-worth,  Binge Eating Disorder is as damaging as the other classified eating disorders.

The frustrating fact is many of the NHS Eating Disorder services work solely with underweight individuals, further perpetuating the belief that Anorexia is ‘the worst’ Eating Disorder.  Binge Eating Disorder can destroy physical and mental wellbeing to just the same extent.

The February edition of the International Journal of Eating Disorders published research which found that over a quarter of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese showed signs of an Eating Disorder.

Hopefully, this is the start of a more honest public perception of what constitutes an Eating Disorder.