What’s the relationship between depression and binge eating? Plus, four recovery tips

Binge eating disorder (BED) is a type of eating disorder where people regularly consume large amounts of food in a short period of time. People with BED tend to eat faster than normal, past the point of satisfaction or until they’re uncomfortably full. 

It’s common for BED to co-occur with other mental health conditions. It often occurs with major depression, a type of depression that causes a persistent low mood every day for at least two weeks.

Do binge eating disorder and depression happen together?

Major depression is the most common co-occurring diagnosis for people with eating disorders. In fact, it affects between 50% and 75% of people with an eating disorder. And since binge eating disorder is the most common eating disorder in the U.S., it makes sense that depression and BED often go hand in hand. 

While we don’t know the exact reason for BED and depression comorbidity, we do know that there’s a connection between overeating and emotions. Binging behaviors are associated with a person’s emotional state, with depression being one of the most common emotional triggers for BED. It’s even thought that more frequent binge eating may be linked to more severe depression symptoms.

Binge eating often causes feelings of shame, guilt, and disgust, which can contribute to an increased risk of depression. Conversely, some people with depression use binge eating as a coping method for their pain, which can sometimes lead to loss of control and binge episodes. It’s common to self-soothe with foods that are high in sugar and fat, in particular, because of the way they interact with chemicals in the brain to produce positive emotions. 

While there’s no single underlying cause of major depression or BED, there are various factors that may influence each condition. And some of those factors overlap. For example, depressive disorders like major depression have been linked to: 

• Hormonal imbalances 
• An imbalance of brain chemicals known as neurotransmitters, which regulate mood stability
• A family history of depression or other mental health concerns
• A history of trauma 

Similarly, BED is associated with a range of psychological and environmental risk factors, including:

• Low self-esteem, negative body image, or unmanaged stress
• Frequent dieting and other practices that disrupt normal eating patterns
• A family history of eating disorders
• A history of trauma 

Symptoms of binge eating and depression

People with BED tend to have lower quality of life than people without eating disorders. And when you add in co-occurring depression, it can affect their quality of life even more. For some people with BED, symptoms of depression have a direct impact on their ability to manage compulsive eating. For example, depression can affect people’s self-control and decision-making abilities, making it more difficult to regulate their eating behaviors. 

When left unmanaged, depression and binge eating can have other negative effects, including: 

• Feelings of loneliness and isolation 
• Trouble functioning at work, school, or in social situations 
• Lack of enjoyment from hobbies and activities 
• Weight gain and obesity 
• Health conditions linked to weight gain, like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Four tips for long-term recovery and wellness

Overcoming a mental health condition — whether it’s an eating disorder, mood disorder, or both — often requires patience and persistence. If you’re ready for recovery, the following lifestyle changes can help you manage and maintain your well-being.

1. Mindful eating: Intuitive eating doesn’t call for a restrictive or limited diet. Instead, it encourages you to focus on respecting your body, making peace with food, and understanding your body’s hunger cues. This also means avoiding unhealthy eating habits, like restricting food or fasting.

2. Regular exercise: Not only does exercise release endorphins, but it can also help you gain confidence and take your mind off of negative thoughts that contribute to depression. Some research also suggests that physical activity can help decrease binge eating episodes. But be sure to talk to your doctor before changing your level of physical activity. 

3. Community support: Having a strong support system can make a meaningful difference in a person’s mental health journey. Confide in a trusted family member or friend, or join an eating disorder support group for a safe space to connect with others on a similar healing journey.

4. Continued awareness: Recovering from an eating disorder isn’t always linear, so it’s important to be aware of triggers and signs of relapse. You may experience emotional triggers, like guilt or stress, as well as environmental triggers, like social media and the holiday season. 

How to manage co-occurring binge eating and depression

When managing BED and co-occurring conditions like major depression, many people benefit from a comprehensive approach that addresses their mental, physical, and nutritional health. 

Treatment options for BED and depression include:

Talk therapy

Talk therapy is considered a first-choice treatment for BED and depression. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and interpersonal psychotherapy are some of the most effective techniques, but the exact approach will depend on your exact needs. Whether you’re seeking care for the first time or looking for additional support for your symptoms, finding the right therapist for you is essential to healing and recovery. 

Medication management

Some people also benefit from adding medication to their treatment plan. Prescription medications are often used to help manage symptoms of depression and can sometimes help treat BED. If you’re interested in using medication to address specific symptoms, speak with a healthcare provider to see if it’s appropriate for your treatment plan.

Nutritional counseling

When working with a registered dietitian, people learn to analyze their eating behaviors and introduce healthier habits. For example, recognizing hunger and fullness cues and practicing mindful eating can help you break the cycle of compulsive overeating and reduce feelings of sadness and hopelessness. 

Find care with Rula

Binge eating disorder and major depression are two serious but treatable mental health conditions. If you’re interested in learning how to manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life, Rula can help. 

With Rula’s easy-to-use therapist-matching program, you can find the right provider for your needs in less than 30 seconds and begin treatment as soon as tomorrow. And if medication management is part of your treatment plan, we can connect you with a psychiatric provider to find the right solution for you. 

Get started with Rula today