Abstract:

Binge eating disorder (BED) is characterized by recurrent binge-eating episodes and marked distress. These individuals eat unusually large amounts of food during which they experience a subjective loss of control. BED can have negative consequences for physical and psychological well-being. In the present review, key precipitants of BED are discussed including stressors, negative affect, an impulsive personality style, body dissatisfaction, dietary restraint, interpersonal problems and instrumental feeding from parents. In addition, leading explanations of the disorder are reviewed: the affect regulation model, food addiction model, interpersonal model and perfectionism model. Finally, select future research directions are discussed, particularly in relation to elucidating risk factors, refining theoretical perspectives, and identifying reliable neuro-cognitive mechanisms through neuroimaging methods. Finally, recommendations are discussed for prevention and intervention aimed at reducing suffering and improving quality of life among people with BED.

Key words:  binge eating disorder, influence factor, theory model, food addiction