Diagnosing Binge-Eating Disorder

When an eating disorder is suspected, a doctor generally performs a variety of tests and exams. This is important with binge-eating disorder, both to distinguish it from other types of disordered eating and also to determine whether there are any related complications or conditions. Some of the things the doctor may do include:

• Physical exam - A physical exam may include a check of height, weight and body mass index (BMI), measurement of blood pressure, heart rate and rhythm, palpating (feeling) the thyroid gland and the abdominal organs and listening to the heart and lungs.
• Laboratory tests - Blood may be drawn to check things such as cholesterol and glucose levels and thyroid function.
• Psychological exam - A psychological exam is usually done by a mental health professional, and consists of an interview about past and current eating habits and any emotions or feelings that accompany the eating problem. Many mental health professionals use standardized tests or questionnaires that help to distinguish between different mental health conditions.
• Specific tests - If there are symptoms related to a binge-eating disorder such as sleeping or breathing problems, special tests may be ordered to diagnose and treat these conditions.

Most doctors use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) diagnostic criteria for binge-eating disorder to help with the diagnosis. These include:

A report of feeling out of control while eating along with three of the following symptoms:

• Eating much more rapidly than normal
• Eating until uncomfortably full
• Eating large amounts of food, even when not physically hungry
• Eating alone out of embarrassment at the quantity of food being eaten
• Feelings of disgust, depression, or guilt with overeating.

These behaviors must occur 2 times per week over the course of 6 months with no compensatory behaviors (purging, laxatives or other inappropriate means to compensate for overeating).

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