Binge eaters make up 20% of eating disorders

ONE-IN-FIVE people with an eating disorder is a binge eater, new figures show.

The finding came as a surprise to Bodywhys, the Eating Disorders Association or Ireland.

“It was a big surprise to us. A lot of people with BED (Binge Eating Disorder) become obese, so all the publicity last year surrounding the National Task Force on Obesity may have made them think,” said chief executive Jennie O’Reilly.

But she said that while the task force had focused on lifestyle and diet, it had failed to examine the psychological issues.

“One hundred per cent of eating disorders are psychological illnesses,” she stressed.

It is now thought that BED may affect 2% of all adults.

Bodywhys is conducting an online poll asking people to identify the eating disorder they are experiencing. More than one-fifth of those who responded so far has BED.

Bodywhys also found that as many people with BED are reaching out for help as those with anorexia.

* The Bodywhys helpline number is 1890-2004444 and the website address is www.bodywhys.ie.