If You Struggle With Binge Eating, These 8 Quotes Will Hit Home

Did you know the National Institute of Mental Health recently reported that binge eating disorder (BED) is now the most common type of eating disorder?  Sadly, only about 30 percent of those with the condition seek treatment – many times because people do not realize that binge eating is, in fact, an eating disorder.

Our very own ERC Recovery Advocate Kara Richardson Whitely recently spoke with Capital Public Radio about the myths surrounding binge eating disorder while also sharing her personal experiences with it. We were so moved by Kara’s words that we are sharing some of them with you here:

Quotes About Binge Eating Disorder

1. “The thing about BED is that often times we present ourselves as very highly functioning people, yet I was completely consumed by food. I would be conquered by a cupcake.”
2. “In the darkest moments of my struggle with BED, it would be when I was hiding and replacing food.”
3. “Even for me, who ate in secret, it showed up on my body as excess pounds on my body.”
4. “This isn’t just a battle of will power and making positive choices, BED may be a biologically based illness for most people.”
5. “I would feel so shameful and guilty at any given moment about what I had eaten and how I felt in my body, and the worse I felt about myself, the more I ate and abused food.”
6. “I never knew what my exact weight was because the highest number on my scale was 350 and I was way over that point. Now on my recovery it’s not about a number, but about if I am taking care of myself.”
7. “Young children not being affected by ED is a MYTH. The number of children under the age of 12 is on the rise and my BED started at 9 years old. Sometimes it’s not really recognized because a doctor may focus on the actual weight and not what is actually behind that weight.”
8. “Eating disorders can be deadly; this is a fact. From anorexia to bulimia and of course BED, all are incredibly deadly. It’s important that someone who is going through or has gone through weight loss surgery knows that BED is still there and needs to be talked about.”

Catch Kara’s full interview on Capital New Radio’s website.

If you think you are struggling with binge eating disorder, please call (877) 825-8584 to schedule a free, confidential consultation with a Masters-level clinician who can help you understand your treatment options.

Learn more:

• What is binge eating?
• Insurance coverage for binge eating disorder