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Can you be thin and have a binge eating disorder?

178 Answers
Last Updated: 06/15/2022 at 3:05am
Can you be thin and have a binge eating disorder?
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Top Rated Answers
Laraland
March 8th, 2017 11:08pm
Yes, you can. Your body weight is a result of your eating habits, not the other way around. So you can have anorexia but have a healthy weight or even be overweight. And you can be thin or skinny and have binge eating disorder!
Anonymous
March 16th, 2017 1:42am
From my knowledge i think so. You can have any body type and still have eating issues. Big or Small.
marvelousBlossom86
March 24th, 2017 7:14am
Yes, some people have high metabolic rates and/or exercise a lot (ex. athletes) leading them to be thin while still having a binge eating disorder.
caringShell96
March 24th, 2017 9:21pm
Absolutely. There's this stigma around eating disorder which says that an anorexic/bulimic person has to be thin and a binge eater is definitely large. But that's not true. An eating disorder isn't classified according to how much you weight, but what's going on in your head.
Anonymous
April 16th, 2017 10:43am
Being obese and having a binge eating disorder aren't necessarily related, although you could say that they are in most people. You could have a higher metabolic rate than others or exercise alot which would prevent you from gaining weight as easily as another person with the same disorder. While it is good that you do not become dangerously obese through binge eating, it's not good for your body at all. So you should consult someone about it and get medical treatment if at all possible.
WinterDog
April 20th, 2017 1:40pm
Yes, you can be any weight and have binge eating disorder. Just like you can be anarexic and overweight. You see, how much you weigh is only a SYMPTOM of an eating disorder and just like with physical illnesses, some people experience some symptoms but not others. An eating disorder is mainly catogarised by your thoughts, feelings and actions as it is a mental illness. For example, an overweight person may be anarexic even if they don't fit the stereotype of "looking anarexic" They may eat far too little or nothing at all as well as excessively worrying about their weight along with other symptoms. If they went to a doctors about this, yes the doctor may see that they are not experiencing the symptom of being "skinny" yet (but they may as the behaviour and illness continues and progresses) but would still diagnose them with anarexia if they were experiencing enough of the other symptoms of the disorder. The same logic can be applied to binge eating disorder. Hope this helped, have a lovely day :)
Anonymous
April 26th, 2017 2:24am
Absolutely. Whether you are purging or not, your size or weight has nothing to do with whether or not you have a binge eating disorder. Personally, I have binge eating disorder (no purging) and have had it since I was 13 years old. It's 10 years later and my weight has been everywhere from underweight to "normal" to overweight. Size doesn't/shouldn't matter. The real help comes when you talk with your therapist about where this behavior stems from, what triggers it, and what you can do to work on changing the behaviors. Recovery is not a short process, but it is worth it :)
VanillaTwilight8
June 8th, 2017 11:07pm
Of course, people of any shape and size can have eating disorders. Some people may say things such as "you dont look like you have [disorder]," but they do not have any right to tell you what you are going through.
MiriLee
June 24th, 2017 10:23pm
It's possible. Depending on how a person's metabolism works, they may burn the calories they would consume while binge eating quicker than others, and therefore stay thinner. Also, they could be dealing with a disorder that is combined with other things. If they are bingeing and purging, or bingeing and restricting, they would not gain that weight the same way.
PrincessDove13
June 30th, 2017 6:58am
Absolutely. You can be thin or large and have an eating disorder. For example, we usually associaye anorexia and people who have it as being very unhealthily thin, and although that is true often, people can be average weight or even a bit heavy and have anorexic behaviour.
ChubbyFoolsGardenOfStars1
July 7th, 2017 8:57am
Of course. Eating disorders are not about being fat, in fact, eating disorders are mental illnesses and most if them doesn't show as being fat. Anorexia and bulimia are the perfect examples of that.
empathicSunset87
July 13th, 2017 7:31am
Yes. People of all sizes can have a eating disorder. Many thin people have faster metabolisms. I know many people who binge or eat a lot and gain no weight at all.
Anonymous
July 14th, 2017 4:16pm
Yes. Eating disorders do not depend on the person's weight or body. If you have one, you have one. That is valid at every size and shape.
avanef
July 14th, 2017 7:38pm
Yes. Any body type can have this. Being thin and having a binge eating disorder is something that is normal and can happen a lot to people who have really high metabolisms and a lot of people say that by age and all you'll gain the weight and all. I wouldn't worry too much about that because you know your body best. The best advice I can give for you on that is with the binge eating, just eat things that taste good for you but are also healthy for you. It might help with the eating problem (if it bothers you at all in the first place) and you should be good. But, there;s nothing wrong with that. Food is good for you and you need to eat, so I wouldn't worry. But, if you are worried and think it is a problem, you can see someone like a doctor or a person who know things about diets and health with food and you can talk with them. Good luck to you!
Anonymous
July 19th, 2017 5:05am
Yes. You can be thin and have a binge eating disorder. It is based on the amount of food you eat and why, not your weight.
latticinio
November 16th, 2017 3:52pm
Eating disorders come in all shapes and forms. If you believe you may be struggling with an eating disorder, It's best to let your parents and doctor know before it progresses into something more extreme. To answer your question, yes, any person, even someone who is thin can develop a Binge Eating Disorder.
luminousSoul05
November 23rd, 2017 6:11pm
Often, weight had little to do with an ED. Personally, I suffered from a form of anorexia as a thin person, but any body type can suffer from an ED. Your size or figure never invalidates an illness. If you suspect you have BED, you should see a professional and get help. Being healthy is more important than looking a certain way. You should feel comfortable and safe in your body.
Anonymous
December 21st, 2017 9:49am
Yes, our bodies work very differently. Sone people have a faster metabolism which helps them lose excessive food before it becomes fat in the body. It is helpful to remember that all eating disorders come in different shapes and weights
empathicalex
January 2nd, 2018 11:09pm
Yes! Eating disorders come in all shapes and sizes. If you feel that you (or someone you know) might be suffering from the symptoms of a binge eating disorder, this is likely a reaction to a deeper problem and could be a way to cope. Eating disorders have extremely serious consequences if left untreated and those suffering deserve a life free of control from weight and food. I highly recommend that if an individual feels that they may be suffering from any eating disorder, to seek professional guidance. A good first step is seeing your internal doctor or family doctor or doing some research of treatment facilities on-line to gain an understanding of what lies ahead. There are so many different and legitimate types of treatments for eating disorders! As a survivor of six years, I am also happy to be an active listener when you feel triggered to obey to your eating disorder.
DragonEye
January 10th, 2018 4:55am
Binge Eating Disorder is characterized by lack of control of eating, followed by disgust and self-hatred for oneself after this period. People with BED will often eat alone, out of shame, will hoard food, and some will frequetly diet without weight loss. It is more common in bigger people, but you can be thin and still have BED. If you are purging afterwards, however, then it may be Bulimia-Nervosa.
Anonymous
January 24th, 2018 9:31pm
Eating Disorders are not about weight or shape, they are about how food affects you and makes you feel. There is no certain weight that determines an eating disorder, but the best way to go about getting a diagnosis is by visiting a doctor. They can answer any questions you may have
PrinceFroggy
January 26th, 2018 12:20am
Absolutely. Some people with binge eating disorders will carefully construct their eating habits so that when they do binge it has little effect on overall weight. Eventually the problems manifest with the same gastrointestinal problems that heavier binge eaters have...such as ulcers, hiatal hernia etc. If you feel that you, or somebody you know has a binge eating disorder, a qualified therapist can help identify the root of the behavior and work with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help sublimate the urge to binge with more constructive activities. A nutritionist may be able to help you relearn your eating habits and both of them may be able to help identify and stay away from your triggers.
Anonymous
February 8th, 2018 4:20am
Of course, the idea that eating disorders only apply to certain body sizes is absurd. Any body type can have any eating disorder.
Anonymous
February 14th, 2018 6:41am
Yes you can. It happens all the time and you are not alone. I would recommend that you seek out a professional to help you. There are lots of selections here!
Anonymous
February 14th, 2018 11:13pm
Contrary to popular belief, physical appearance and eating disorders are two distinct things. Someone with a binge eating disorder can look thin or at "normal" weight.
LibbyMaclain
February 23rd, 2018 11:38pm
Yes. You can be any weight and still have an eating disorder. Eating disorders are seen in all types of people. People with Binge Eating Disorder are not always overweight. They can be thin. Many people just have a fast metabolism or a slow metabolism that makes them look different.
Anonymous
February 28th, 2018 2:25pm
I believe you can be thin and have a binge eating disorder. It isn't said that they don't have a fast metabolism or work out religiously.
kaylaelliott124
March 7th, 2018 5:00pm
absolutely, eating disorders have no specific way you must look in order to be truly suffering from them
Savannah147258
March 14th, 2018 6:37pm
Yes, you can be thin and have a binge eating disorder. It depends on what you're eating or if you're exercising. Being thin is not what should matter. Some people do everything they can to be thin but they're not using healthy methods, so even though they may look great, they feel sluggish and weak and tired. It's important to eat a balanced meal with protein, healthy sugars like fruit, vegetables, and grain or fiber. Binge eating can cause you to gain weight depending on the other habits, but eating too much food can make you very tired, sluggish, and it can promote a low self-esteem. Try to think of your body like a car. Your car needs fuel but you wouldn't put sugar in it right? It would kill the car. in order for your body to feel good and work properly you have to give it the right fuel.
crazycatlady987
March 30th, 2018 2:34pm
of course,eating disorders don't discriminate against weight.during my binge eating i was at a low bmi