Which of the following is true of binge eating disorder (BED)?

• A. BED is less common than anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.
• B. BED occurs exclusively in individuals who are underweight.
• C. BED is characterized by regular use of compensatory behaviors such as purging or excessive exercise after binge episodes.
• D. Individuals with BED experience recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food, often quickly and to the point of discomfort.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the definition of Binge Eating Disorder (BED). BED is characterized by recurrent episodes of eating large amounts of food in a discrete period, often rapidly and to the point of discomfort, without regular compensatory behaviors like purging.
2. Step 2: Compare BED with other eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Note that BED is actually more common than anorexia and bulimia, and it does not involve compensatory behaviors after binge episodes.
3. Step 3: Recognize that BED can occur across different weight categories, not exclusively in individuals who are underweight. Many individuals with BED may be overweight or obese.
4. Step 4: Identify the key diagnostic criteria for BED, which include episodes of binge eating marked by a sense of lack of control, distress about binge eating, and absence of regular compensatory behaviors.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the true statement about BED is that individuals experience recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food quickly and to the point of discomfort, distinguishing it from other eating disorders.