Are you struggling with binge eating—eating large amounts of food, and feeling ashamed and disgusted with yourself? Do you try to eat healthily, only to feel like you fall off the bandwagon? Do you repeatedly diet only to find yourself in a pattern of eating uncontrollably? Specialized therapy at EDTLA can help.
What is Binge Eating Disorder?
If this feels familiar, you may have binge-eating disorder (BED), an eating disorder characterized by episodes of binge eating: eating large amounts of food in a short period of time and feeling out of control while doing so. Unlike people with bulimia, people with binge eating do not engage in additional behaviors to undo the effects of the binge. They may, however, diet between binges. It’s important to recognize that you are not failing at dieting; the diets are themselves the problem. The diagnosis of binge eating disorder was recognized more recently than anorexia and bulimia, but it can be every bit as severe and distressing.
Like all eating disorders, binge eating disorder is caused by an interaction of genetic, biological, and environmental factors. Fortunately, there is an effective treatment.
Symptoms of BED
People will often display some or all of the following behavioral and emotional signs:
- Episodes of eating large amounts in a short period of time (binges)
- Feeling out of control during binges
- Eating rapidly during binge episodes
- Eating in secret
- Disgust, guilt, or shame about eating
- Frequently dieting
People who have binge-eating disorder can be of any body size, from thin to large. Most often, restriction of food in either volume or variety is a primary driver of binge eating. It often develops following dieting and/or weight loss. Our bodies have evolved mechanisms that allowed our ancestors to survive centuries in which food was scarce: they will resist attempts to restrict food or decrease our weight by causing us to go in search of the most calorie-dense food available. This mechanism does not understand that today there is a Starbucks on every corner and that a lull in eating is not a dangerous famine.
Some people may have a pattern of not eating until later in the day and binge eating or even waking at night from sleep to eat. Some people who binge eat have night eating syndrome, which is an eating disorder plus a circadian rhythm disorder.
So bingeing is actually a protective mechanism. But it’s unpleasant and distressing when it happens. You may feel ashamed and beat yourself up. You may feel really stuck. We can help you stop the cycle of restricting and bingeing.
Who Struggles With Binge Eating Disorder?
BED is the most common eating disorder in the United States. It affects people of all ethnicities, races, and genders. Binge eating disorder tends to affect mostly adults. Less commonly, it occurs in children and teens. Binge eating disorder affects people of all body sizes, although the stereotype of someone with binge eating disorder is of a larger person. This is because it is often assumed that a person with a binge eating disorder merely “eats too much.” However, this is not the case. As stated previously, people are naturally of varying body sizes, and binge eating is most often a reaction—in any size person—to restriction or weight suppression.
Treatment for Binge Eating Disorder
Our treatment for binge-eating disorder is rooted in an anti-diet HAES® approach and is based on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), the most effective psychotherapy for binge eating. CBT for binge eating has been well-studied, and Terry Wilson—who mentored EDTLA’s founder, Dr. Muhlheim—was one of the developers of the treatment.
Contrary to popular belief, people with binge-eating disorder do not just overeat or eat beyond fullness all the time. It is still an eating disorder driven by restriction. Accordingly, we treat binge eating disorder by helping you identify patterns of restriction and work on eating more regularly. We usually ask clients to track their eating so we can review eating patterns and suggest some behavioral changes to meal timing, volume, and variety. We use an all-foods fit approach and help you work towards the inclusion of all foods, including fear foods.
Managing BED Triggers
Sometimes, binge eating is maintained as a coping skill for managing distress. We try to help you identify potential emotional triggers for binges. Through our work, we help you appreciate your resilience while learning to develop alternative coping skills. We support you in addressing body image concerns and learning to accept whatever size body you are in. Our therapists will never agree to focus on the goal of weight loss; this is incompatible with stopping a pattern of binge eating.
While many people might be interested in pursuing medication for binge eating, we caution against the use of Vyvanse, the only medication authorized for the treatment of binge eating disorder (BED). Research supports the use of psychotherapy instead.
FAQs About Binge Eating Disorder
If you’re navigating binge eating disorder, whether personally or as someone supporting a loved one, it’s natural to have questions about what it is, how it works, and what healing can look like. Below, we answer some of the most common questions we hear at Eating Disorder Therapy LA to help you feel more informed and confident about taking the next step.
1. What is the difference between binge eating disorder and overeating?
Overeating is something most people experience occasionally, like having an extra helping at a holiday meal or finishing a bag of chips while watching a movie. Binge eating disorder (BED) is different. It involves recurring episodes of consuming large amounts of food in a short period, accompanied by a profound sense of loss of control, distress, shame, or guilt. Unlike casual overeating, BED is a recognized mental health condition driven by complex emotional and psychological factors that typically require professional support to address effectively.
2. Why can’t I just stop binge eating on my own?
Binge eating disorder isn’t a matter of willpower or discipline. It’s a complex mental health condition rooted in emotional regulation, brain chemistry, and often a long history of food restriction or diet culture. Binge episodes frequently serve as a coping mechanism for stress, anxiety, or difficult emotions, making them hard to interrupt without the right tools and support. Trying to stop through sheer willpower can actually increase feelings of shame and worsen the cycle. Therapy helps you understand and address the underlying drivers so that lasting change becomes possible.
3. Can binge eating disorder be fully recovered from?
Yes, full recovery from binge eating disorder is absolutely possible. With consistent, evidence-based treatment, many people go on to live free from binge episodes, food preoccupation, and the shame that once drove the cycle. Recovery looks different for everyone and can take time, but research consistently supports that therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) produce meaningful, lasting results. Seeking professional support significantly increases your chances of long-term recovery compared to attempting to manage BED on your own.
4. What does recovery from binge eating disorder actually look like?
Recovery from binge eating disorder is less about achieving a “perfect” relationship with food overnight and more about gradual, sustainable progress. It often looks like a reduction in the frequency and intensity of binge episodes, a growing ability to identify and cope with emotional triggers, and a shift away from shame toward self-compassion. You may notice improved emotional regulation, a more flexible and peaceful relationship with food, and greater confidence in your daily life. Recovery is not linear, but with the right therapeutic support, meaningful and lasting change is well within reach.
5. How can I help a loved one who is struggling with binge eating disorder?
One of the most powerful things you can do is approach your loved one with empathy and without judgment. Avoid commenting on their food choices, body, or eating habits. This can intensify shame and make it harder for them to open up. Instead, express genuine concern, listen without trying to fix, and gently encourage them to seek professional support. Educating yourself about binge eating disorder can also help you respond in ways that feel safe and validating. Family or caregiver therapy can be an invaluable resource for learning how to offer meaningful support.
6. How is binge eating disorder treated differently from other eating disorders?
While there is some overlap in treatment approaches across eating disorders, BED treatment has a distinct focus. Unlike anorexia or bulimia treatment, which often prioritizes medical stabilization and interrupting restriction or purging behaviors, BED treatment centers heavily on emotional regulation, breaking the restrict-binge cycle, and addressing the psychological relationship with food and body image. Treatment for BED also tends to emphasize a non-diet, weight-inclusive philosophy to avoid reinforcing patterns that can trigger further bingeing.
Ready to Have Peace Around Food? Begin Therapy for Binge Eating Disorder in Los Angeles, CA, Today
Breaking free from binge eating disorder can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to face it alone. Compassionate, specialized support can help you rebuild your relationship with food and reclaim your sense of self. Evidence-based therapy for binge eating disorder addresses the emotional and behavioral patterns driving the cycle, offering you a structured, judgment-free path toward genuine healing.
You deserve care that goes beyond willpower and gets to the root of what’s keeping you stuck. Therapy can equip you with practical tools, emotional insight, and the consistent support needed to create meaningful, lasting change. Our Los Angeles eating disorder therapy practice employs experienced therapists who specialize in treating binge eating disorder and related concerns in both teens and adults. Taking that first step is simpler than you might think:
- Reach out to Eating Disorder Therapy LA directly to get started
- Fill out our brief Google form, and we’ll connect you with a binge eating disorder therapist in Los Angeles, CA
- Begin your journey toward food freedom and a healthier, more peaceful life
Other Services at EDTLA in Los Angeles, California
Healing from binge eating disorder is a deeply personal journey, and having the right therapeutic support can make all the difference in how quickly and fully you recover. With compassionate, specialized care, you can expect to develop a healthier relationship with food, break free from shame-driven eating patterns, and build the emotional resilience needed for lasting change.
At Eating Disorder Therapy LA, our therapists work with a wide range of clients, including adults, college students, children, teens, and caregivers, providing individualized, evidence-based care for all types of eating disorders and related concerns. In addition to binge eating disorder treatment, we offer specialized therapy for Anorexia Nervosa, Atypical Anorexia, Bulimia Nervosa, Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), and Family-Based Treatment (FBT). We also address Excessive Exercise, Body Image challenges, and Phobias Related to Swallowing, Choking, and Vomiting.
To ensure care that fits your lifestyle and needs, our Los Angeles practice offers both online counseling and group therapy for eating disorders. We also provide small group FBT and ARFID consultations, eating disorder education, speaking, and training, school programs, and clinical supervision for eating disorder therapists
We encourage you to explore our eating disorder blog and Dr. Mulheim’s published books for additional guidance and insight: When Your Teen Has an Eating Disorder and The Weight-Inclusive CBT Workbook for Eating Disorders (available in 2026). To connect with our team directly, call us at (323) 743-1122 or email Hello@EDTLA.com. We look forward to walking alongside you on your path to recovery.