Jennie Kramer

If you’re facing up to binge eating disorder (BED) or any disordered eating, adopting healthy eating habits and finding ways to outlast those urges to binge. Knowing the health risks you face may help motivate you to change your behavior. Your family and loved ones can play a key role in your recovery and can benefit from their own tips on coping.

Many myths persist about the circumstances and factors that contribute to binge eating and what it means to be a binge eater (or an emotional eater). Only time, continued research, and greater acceptance from the general population and the medical community will help dispel some of the myths identified below with binge eating.

If you're the friend or loved one of a binge eater, you may be wondering what you can do to help. Like any eating disorder, the right kind of support can be critical as someone begins the journey to overcome binge eating and begins to make healthier, more sustainable choices about food. Educate yourself about binge eating Becoming familiar with the basics of binge eating disorder is the best place to start if you want to help a loved one suffering from it.