Binge Eating Disorder: How Patterns Can Begin in Childhood & What To Do About It

by San Diego Binge Eating Therapist Dr. Marianne Miller, LMFT

Binge eating disorder (BED) is often seen as an adult issue, and its origins frequently start in childhood. Early emotional connections to food, family dynamics, and exposure to societal pressures can all shape eating patterns that persist into adulthood. Whether you live in San Diego, California, in Dallas, Texas, or in Washington, D.C., binge eating disorder can emerge across the lifespan. In this post, we’ll explore how these behaviors begin in childhood, what caregivers can do to support their children, and how to address binge eating disorder as an adult if these patterns have continued.

How Binge Eating Patterns Begin in Childhood

Binge eating disorder involves more than eating large quantities of food. It’s a complex coping mechanism for managing emotional stress. The roots of this behavior often begin in childhood because of a variety of factors:

• Emotional Eating: Children often turn to food when they don’t learn other ways to handle difficult emotions. If a child consistently eats to cope with stress, sadness, or frustration, this pattern can follow them into adulthood.

• Family Dynamics: The way a family approaches food, body image, and eating habits can have a lasting impact on a child's relationship with eating. Strict food rules, body criticism, or pressure to eat in certain ways can lead to secretive behaviors or shame around food.

• Messages From Society: Children are exposed to societal messages about food and body size at a young age. Whether from media, peers, or family, these messages can create an "all or nothing" mindset, leading to patterns of restricting and later eating large amounts of food in response.

• Food Access: Growing up in an environment where food was scarce can contribute to binge eating patterns. So can growing up in a food-deprived environment in which caregivers restrict the types and amounts of food children are able to eat. These early experiences can create lasting associations between food, emotional security, and a sense of deprivation.

What Caregivers Can Do to Support Children

If you notice early signs of disordered eating in your child, there are ways to create a supportive environment that encourages a balanced relationship with food:

Model Mental Health in Your Eating Habits

Children pick up on the behaviors of adults. Encourage eating patterns that involve listening to the body’s hunger and fullness cues without labeling foods as good/bad, healthy/unhealthy, clean/junk, etc.

Encourage Emotional Expression

Help children express emotions through talking, drawing, or playing rather than using food to manage feelings. Teaching them to acknowledge and talk about their emotions early on can reduce the likelihood of turning to food for comfort. it is also important to validate their feelings instead of dismissing emotions and always being in “fix-it” mode when listening to your child.

Avoid Using Food to Control Behavior

When food is used as a reward or punishment, it can create negative associations. Instead, focus on other forms of encouragement and consequences that don't involve eating.

Look for Warning Signs of Binge Eating Disorder

If your child is sneaking food, feeling ashamed about eating, or avoiding meals, these may be early signs of disordered eating. It’s important to remember that when there’s binge eating, there’s restriction. Another sign is a preoccupation with body image. Recognizing all behaviors early allows for intervention before patterns become deeply ingrained.

Seek Professional Help for Binge Eating Disorder

If you notice persistent behaviors, seeking support from a therapist or dietitian who specializes in eating disorders can make a difference. Early intervention can provide children with tools to break these patterns and develop a healthier relationship with food.

Addressing Binge Eating Disorder as an Adult

If binge eating patterns developed in childhood and have continued into adulthood, it’s never too late to seek help. Here are some steps to address binge eating disorder as an adult:

Identify Emotional Triggers of Binge Eating Episodes

Binge eating often happens as a way to deal with uncomfortable emotions like stress, shame, boredom, or anxiety. Reflect on what leads you to eat in this way and try to address those emotions through other activities, such as journaling, talking to a friend, or practicing relaxation techniques.

Practice Self-Compassion When You Have a Binge Eating Episode

Recovering from binge eating disorder requires self-compassion. Instead of being hard on yourself when you slip up, remind yourself that these patterns developed as a way to cope. It helped you survive very difficult times. Approach recovery with patience and kindness, knowing that healing takes time.

Challenge Restrictive Thinking

Many binge eating patterns are connected to a restrictive mindset. When you tell yourself that certain foods are "off-limits," it can create a sense of deprivation, leading to later binges. Allow yourself to eat a variety of foods and listen to your body’s natural cues for hunger and fullness.

Practice Mechanical Eating

For those struggling to connect with their hunger and fullness cues, mechanical eating can be a helpful tool. It involves eating at regular intervals throughout the day, whether or not you feel hungry. By doing this, you can prevent extreme hunger that often leads to binge episodes, while slowly retraining your body to recognize its natural hunger signals again.

Build a Support System to Help Your Binge Eating Disorder Recovery

Having a community of people around you in San Diego, California, as well as Los Angeles, California, and NYC, is important. You want folks who understand what you’re going through can be a key part of binge eating disorder recovery. Whether it’s a therapist, support group, or trusted friends, surrounding yourself with supportive people can provide encouragement and accountability as you work to overcome binge eating.

Seek Professional Guidance for Binge Eating Disorder

Professional support, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), is often crucial for addressing the underlying emotions and thought patterns driving binge eating patterns. An eating disorder therapist in San Diego, California and elsewhere can help you navigate the emotional aspects of binge eating disorder and provide strategies for long-term change.

Final Thoughts

Binge eating disorder can develop from early experiences and persist into adulthood, but it doesn’t have to define your relationship with food. Whether you’re addressing these patterns in your child or seeking to overcome them as an adult, recovery is possible. By identifying emotional triggers, practicing self-compassion, and seeking the right support, you can begin to heal and develop a more peaceful connection with eating.

If you or a loved one is struggling with binge eating, my therapy and coaching services are here to support you on your journey.

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