What Is Binge Eating Disorder?
Binge eating disorder (BED) is the most common eating disorder in the United States, affecting nearly 3.5% of women at some point in their lives. Unlike bulimia, binge eating disorder does not involve regular compensatory behaviors such as purging or excessive exercise. Instead, BED is characterized by recurring episodes of eating significantly large amounts of food in a short period, accompanied by feelings of being out of control, followed by intense distress.
The emotional toll of BED is profound. Many women describe feeling “addicted” to food — using it to numb pain, soothe anxiety, fill a void, or manage stress. The binge is followed by crushing guilt and self-hatred, which paradoxically feeds the cycle. Over time, BED can lead to significant physical health consequences including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome — as well as worsening depression, anxiety, and social isolation.
Signs and Symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder
- Eating unusually large amounts of food in a discrete period of time (typically within 2 hours)
- Feeling that your eating is completely out of control during a binge
- Eating rapidly during binge episodes
- Eating when you're not physically hungry
- Eating until you're uncomfortably, even painfully full
- Frequently eating alone out of embarrassment or shame
- Intense feelings of guilt, disgust, or self-loathing after a binge
- Repeated dieting attempts that don't result in lasting change
- Using food to cope with stress, sadness, boredom, or anxiety
- Hiding food or evidence of eating
Our Approach to Binge Eating Disorder Treatment
At IKANN Wellness, we understand that binge eating disorder is not about food alone — and neither is recovery. Our treatment approach addresses the mind, body, emotions, and underlying trauma that drive compulsive eating, helping you build a life where food is nourishment, not a coping mechanism.
Addressing Emotional and Trauma-Driven Eating
For many women, binge eating is a response to unprocessed emotions or unresolved trauma. Our therapists use EMDR, trauma-focused CBT, and somatic approaches to help you understand the emotional triggers behind bingeing and develop healthier ways to process difficult feelings. When the emotional pain is addressed, the compulsion to binge naturally diminishes.
Building a Sustainable Relationship with Food
Our registered dietitians help you move beyond the restrict-binge cycle by developing a balanced, whole-foods-based nutrition plan that eliminates deprivation while teaching you to recognize and respond to your body's natural hunger and fullness cues. We incorporate practical skills like meal planning, mindful eating, and grocery shopping — because recovery has to work in your real life, not just in treatment.
Quieting the "Food Noise"
Many women with BED describe a constant mental preoccupation with food — when the next meal will be, what to eat, what not to eat, the guilt of what they already ate. Our therapeutic approach helps quiet this internal noise through a combination of cognitive restructuring, mindfulness practices, and — when clinically indicated — medication management to reduce cravings and support your recovery.
Treatment Modalities for Binge Eating Disorder
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
The gold standard for BED treatment, helping you identify and change the thought patterns that trigger binge episodes.
EMDR Therapy
Processing trauma-related triggers that drive compulsive eating, delivered by therapists with specialized eating disorder training.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Building emotional regulation and distress tolerance to manage the urges that lead to bingeing.
Nutritional Counseling
Individualized meal planning with registered dietitians focused on whole foods, balanced nutrition, and ending the deprivation-binge cycle.
Mindfulness-Based Interventions
Cultivating present-moment awareness around food, emotions, and body sensations.
Group Therapy
Women-only groups providing peer support, accountability, and the power of shared experience.
Experiential Therapies
Real-world skill building including meal preparation, grocery shopping, and navigating social eating situations.
Medication Management
When appropriate, our psychiatrist can evaluate whether medication-assisted treatment may support your recovery.
Levels of Care for Binge Eating Disorder
Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
Recommended for women with severe BED symptoms, medical complications, or co-occurring conditions requiring intensive support.
- Therapeutic meals included
- Individual therapy 3×/week
- Daily group sessions
- Nutritional counseling
- Holistic therapies
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
Ideal for women who are medically stable and managing daily responsibilities while working toward recovery.
- Weekly individual therapy
- Group sessions
- Nutritional counseling
- Evening options available
Co-Occurring Conditions We Treat
Binge eating disorder frequently co-occurs with other mental health challenges. Our integrated treatment approach addresses:
- Depression and persistent low mood
- Anxiety disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex trauma
- Substance use disorders
- Body dysmorphic disorder
- Low self-esteem and shame-based identity patterns
- Relationship and attachment difficulties
Insurance & Admissions
We accept most major insurance plans for binge eating disorder treatment. Our admissions team will verify your benefits, answer your questions, and support you through the enrollment process with warmth and confidentiality. Call (786) 504-7626 or email office@ikannwellness.com to begin.
No matter how many times you've promised yourself "this is the last time" — there is a way forward. Let us help you find it.
Frequently Asked Questions — Binge Eating Disorder Treatment
Is binge eating disorder a "real" eating disorder?
Yes. Binge eating disorder is a recognized psychiatric diagnosis in the DSM-5 and is the most common eating disorder in the United States. It is a serious condition that requires professional treatment, not willpower or dieting.
How is BED different from emotional eating?
While emotional eating involves occasionally eating in response to feelings, BED is a clinical condition characterized by recurring binge episodes (typically at least once per week for 3 months), a sense of loss of control, and significant distress. BED is a diagnosable disorder that benefits from structured treatment.
Will treatment focus on weight loss?
Our treatment focuses on healing your relationship with food, addressing the emotional and psychological drivers of binge eating, and improving your overall mental and physical health. While some women experience changes in weight as a natural result of recovery, weight loss is not the primary goal of our program.
Does IKANN Wellness offer medication for binge eating disorder?
Yes. Our board-certified psychiatrist can evaluate whether medication-assisted treatment may be beneficial as part of your comprehensive recovery plan. Medication decisions are always made collaboratively and in conjunction with therapy and nutritional counseling.
I've tried diets and programs before and they haven't worked. How is this different?
Diets don't work for BED because they don't address the emotional, psychological, and neurobiological factors driving the disorder. Our program treats the root causes of binge eating — not just the symptoms — through evidence-based therapy, nutritional rehabilitation, and holistic healing in a supportive, women-only environment.