Binge Eating Disorder Treatment in Portland & Vancouver
Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is the most common eating disorder in the United States, yet it remains widely misunderstood. At Beyond Eating Recovery, we provide compassionate, weight-neutral treatment that addresses the emotional roots of binge eating—not just the behaviors. If you've been struggling with feelings of loss of control around food, shame after eating episodes, or the exhausting cycle of restriction and binge eating, you're not alone. Recovery is possible, and we're here to help you find peace with food and your body.
Understanding Binge Eating Disorder
Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is characterized by recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food, often rapidly and to the point of discomfort, while experiencing a sense of loss of control. Unlike bulimia nervosa, BED does not involve regular compensatory behaviors such as purging, excessive exercise, or fasting.
Key Characteristics:
- Recurrent binge eating episodes: Consuming an unusually large amount of food within a discrete period (typically within 2 hours)
- Loss of control: Feeling unable to stop eating or control what or how much you're eating
- No regular compensatory behaviors: Unlike bulimia, there is no purging, fasting, or excessive exercise following binges
- Psychological distress: Significant guilt, shame, disgust, or depression following binge episodes
- Not about willpower: BED is a complex mental health condition, not a lack of self-control
Important Context:
Binge Eating Disorder was only officially recognized as a distinct eating disorder diagnosis in the DSM-5 in 2013, but the experience of binge eating has existed for generations. BED is the most common eating disorder, affecting people of all genders, ages, races, and body sizes. Despite common misconceptions, BED is not about food, weight, or willpower—it's about emotional regulation, trauma, restriction, and using food as a coping mechanism for difficult feelings.
Distinguishing BED from Other Eating Patterns:
- • BED vs. Bulimia Nervosa: BED does not involve regular purging or other compensatory behaviors
- • BED vs. Overeating: BED involves loss of control and significant emotional distress, not just eating past fullness
- • BED vs. Emotional Eating: While related, BED is diagnosed based on frequency, quantity, and level of distress
You may have been told to "just eat less" or "have more willpower," but binge eating is not about discipline. It's a legitimate mental health condition that deserves proper treatment and compassion.
Signs and Symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder
BED affects individuals both behaviorally and emotionally. Many people struggle with binge eating for years before seeking help due to shame and misunderstanding about the condition.
Behavioral Signs:
- ✓ Eating large amounts rapidly: Consuming food much more quickly than normal during binge episodes
- ✓ Eating when not physically hungry: Turning to food in the absence of hunger cues
- ✓ Eating past fullness: Continuing to eat despite uncomfortable fullness
- ✓ Eating alone due to embarrassment: Hiding eating behaviors from others
- ✓ Hoarding or hiding food: Keeping secret stashes of food
- ✓ Frequent dieting attempts: Cycling between restriction and binge eating
- ✓ Evidence of binge eating: Finding empty wrappers, containers, or missing food
Emotional and Psychological Signs:
- ✓ Feelings of loss of control: Sensing you cannot stop eating once you start
- ✓ Shame and guilt: Intense negative emotions after binge episodes
- ✓ Disgust with oneself: Self-criticism and self-blame related to eating
- ✓ Eating to cope with emotions: Using food to manage stress, anxiety, sadness, loneliness, or boredom
- ✓ Depression and anxiety: Co-occurring mental health struggles
- ✓ Social withdrawal: Avoiding social situations involving food
- ✓ Preoccupation with food and eating: Constant thoughts about food, eating, or body image
- ✓ Body image distress: Negative feelings about your body, regardless of size
Physical Signs:
- • Weight fluctuations (though BED occurs across all body sizes)
- • Gastrointestinal problems (bloating, cramping, acid reflux)
- • Sleep disturbances
- • Fatigue or low energy
- • Difficulty concentrating
DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria
According to the DSM-5, BED is diagnosed when binge eating episodes occur at least once a week for three months and are associated with three or more of the following:
- • Eating more rapidly than normal
- • Eating until uncomfortably full
- • Eating large amounts when not physically hungry
- • Eating alone due to embarrassment
- • Feeling disgusted, depressed, or guilty afterward
Important Note:
You don't need to meet all criteria to deserve help. If binge eating is causing you distress or impacting your life, treatment can help—regardless of frequency or body size.
What Causes Binge Eating Disorder?
Binge Eating Disorder doesn't have a single cause. It develops from a complex interaction of biological, psychological, social, and cultural factors. Understanding these contributing factors can help reduce shame and recognize that BED is not your fault.
The Restrict-Binge Cycle:
One of the most common patterns leading to BED is the restrict-binge cycle:
- 1. Restriction Phase: Dieting, food rules, or inadequate eating
- 2. Physical and Psychological Deprivation: Body experiences biological hunger and psychological feelings of deprivation
- 3. Binge Episode: The body overrides willpower, leading to consuming large amounts of food
- 4. Shame and Guilt: Feelings of failure and self-blame
- 5. Return to Restriction: Promising to "be better" or "start over," perpetuating the cycle
"Diet culture teaches us that binge eating is a problem of lack of control. In reality, binge eating is often the body's biological response to restriction and deprivation. Breaking the cycle means ending restriction, not trying harder to control food."
Evidence-Based Treatment for Binge Eating Disorder
Recovery from Binge Eating Disorder is absolutely possible. At Beyond Eating Recovery, we use evidence-based, compassionate, weight-neutral approaches that address the root causes of binge eating—not just the symptoms.
Our Treatment Philosophy:
We believe that binge eating is not about food or lack of willpower. It's a coping mechanism for dealing with difficult emotions, trauma, restriction, and living in a culture that perpetuates shame about food and bodies. True healing addresses these underlying factors.
- • Health At Every Size® (HAES®): Weight-neutral, body-affirming care
- • Intuitive Eating: Reconnecting with internal hunger and fullness cues
- • Non-diet approach: Ending the restrict-binge cycle
- • Trauma-informed care: Addressing past trauma that may contribute to binge eating
- • Social justice orientation: Recognizing the impact of oppression, weight stigma, and diet culture
Anne Cuthbert's 6-Step Treatment Process:
1Build Safety and Trust
- Create a therapeutic relationship where you feel safe to be vulnerable
- Establish emotional and physical safety
- Begin to identify triggers and patterns
2Stabilize Eating Patterns
- Work toward regular, adequate eating throughout the day
- Challenge food rules and "good/bad" food labels
- Reduce physiological deprivation that drives binge eating
3Address Emotional Regulation
- Develop coping skills for managing difficult emotions without food
- Learn to identify and name emotions
- Build a toolbox of alternative coping strategies
4Explore Underlying Issues
- Address trauma, grief, relationship issues, or life stressors
- Understand the function binge eating has served
- Process painful experiences with support
5Heal Your Relationship with Food and Body
- Challenge internalized weight stigma and diet culture beliefs
- Practice self-compassion and body respect
- Develop trust in your body's signals
6Build a Meaningful Life
- Reconnect with values and what matters most to you
- Engage in fulfilling activities beyond food and body focus
- Develop identity beyond eating disorder
Evidence-Based Therapeutic Modalities
- • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- • Psychodynamic therapy
- • Somatic therapy
- • EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
Additional Services
- • Individual therapy (weekly sessions)
- • Dietitian services with Stephanie Okumura, MS, RDN
- • Group therapy options
- • LGBTQIA+ support group (Thursdays, 6-7:15pm)
- • Battle of the Binge Program (4-week online course)
- • Teletherapy throughout Oregon and Washington
What Does Recovery from Binge Eating Disorder Look Like?
Recovery from BED is not about achieving a certain weight or never thinking about food again. It's about freedom—freedom from the obsessive thoughts, the shame, the restrict-binge cycle, and the constant battle with your body.
Emotional Freedom
- Reduced anxiety and preoccupation with food
- Ability to cope with difficult emotions without turning to binge eating
- Increased self-compassion and reduced shame
- Greater overall emotional wellbeing
Behavioral Changes
- Eating regularly and adequately throughout the day
- Trusting your body's hunger and fullness signals
- Flexibility around all foods without rigid rules
- Reduced frequency and intensity of binge episodes
Relationship with Food
- Seeing food as nourishment and pleasure, not the enemy
- Removing moral labels from food
- Eating foods you enjoy without guilt
- Trusting yourself around all foods
Relationship with Your Body
- Body respect, even if not yet body love
- Reduced body checking and negative self-talk
- Appreciation for what your body does
- Freedom from pursuing weight loss as the solution
Anne's Message on Recovery:
"Recovery is possible. I know because I've lived it. The journey is not easy, but it is so worth it. On the other side of this struggle is a life where food is just food, your body is your home, and you are free to be fully yourself. You deserve that freedom."
Recovery Is Not Linear
You will have hard days. You may have setbacks. This doesn't mean you're failing—it means you're human. Recovery is about progress, not perfection.
When Should You Seek Help for Binge Eating?
If you're reading this page, chances are you've already recognized that binge eating is impacting your life. You don't need to wait until things get "bad enough" to reach out for help. You deserve support now.
Seek help if:
- ✓ You're experiencing recurrent episodes of eating large amounts with loss of control
- ✓ You feel shame, guilt, or disgust after eating
- ✓ You're eating in secret or hiding food
- ✓ Food and eating thoughts dominate your day
- ✓ You're cycling between restricting and binge eating
- ✓ Your eating behaviors are causing emotional distress
- ✓ Binge eating is interfering with your relationships, work, or quality of life
- ✓ You've tried to stop on your own without success
Remember:
You don't need to meet full diagnostic criteria. Even if you don't binge eat weekly or meet all the formal criteria for BED, if binge eating is causing you distress, you deserve help.
It's never too early (or too late). Whether you've been struggling for months or decades, recovery is possible. Early intervention can prevent the disorder from becoming more entrenched.
Seeking help is a sign of strength. In a culture that tells us we should be able to "control ourselves" around food, reaching out for help takes courage.
Taking the First Step
The hardest part is often reaching out. Once you do, you're no longer alone in this. We'll walk alongside you every step of the way toward healing and freedom.
Additional Resources and Support
Learn more about related conditions and treatment approaches:
Bulimia Nervosa
Learn about bulimia nervosa, which includes binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors
Emotional Eating
Explore the difference between emotional eating and binge eating disorder
OSFED
Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder
Our Treatment Approach
Learn about Anne's 6-step treatment process
Health At Every Size®
Understanding our weight-neutral philosophy
View All Conditions
Complete eating disorders directory