Skip to main content Skip to bottom nav

Is it possible to have a binge eating disorder but still be skinny?

156 Answers
Last Updated: 06/12/2022 at 9:32pm
Is it possible to have a binge eating disorder but still be skinny?
Take the first step toward feeling better
Begin your therapy journey today and receive $25 off (use code 25OFF7C)
Moderated by

Stacy Overton, PhD.

Counselor

I am an enthusiastic life-long learner and also a professor of counseling. I have a passion for peoples stories and helping to guide and empower the human spirit.

Top Rated Answers
Profile: koreaboo
koreaboo
July 12th, 2016 9:40pm
Of course! Binge eating is when you eat excessively, but you can still be skinny depending on numerous factors such as your genetics or having a fast metabolism.
Profile: AmberMaddenLPCCEDS
AmberMaddenLPCCEDS
June 19th, 2018 3:41pm
It's absolutely possible! Binge Eating Disorder is characterized by behaviors, NOT weight or body size. Binge Eating Disorder is described as eating more in a given period of time to the point of feeling uncomfortable and even sick. Eating "more" can be compared to other individuals or the time/place in which the episode occurred. For example, eating a little more than usual at holidays (such as Christmas) would not be that out of the ordinary, since most people tend to eat more at some holidays. However, eating to the point of feeling ill and sick daily or even just a few times a week, could be indicative of a problem.
Profile: Georgia
Georgia
August 27th, 2017 12:34pm
This is definitely possible! Eating disorders affect people in different ways. Some people have very fast motabalisms and so even if they have a bing eating disorder, their body remains skinny.
Profile: bravesmiles101
bravesmiles101
July 24th, 2016 11:33am
A lot of times, no. One of my friends had B.E.D but was thin, The reason being it wasn't B.E.D anymore, She was exercising constantly, and that made it into a form of bulimia.
Profile: recoveringlistener
recoveringlistener
February 1st, 2018 5:16pm
Absolutely. You can be anorexic and overweight, binge and be underweight, etc. You can be any weight and have any eating disorder. It sometimes seems that we forget it's a mental illness that can sometimes affect you physically. No matter what, you still deserve help!
Profile: Erin12345
Erin12345
July 6th, 2016 3:10pm
Yes. People are able to have any eating disorder, no matter what their body type is. That's why you can never assume someone has, or doesn't have an eating disorder. If you have an eating disorder, please, go see a doctor, and a therapist for specialized help.
Profile: Pandette
Pandette
- Expert in Eating Disorder
July 6th, 2016 6:49pm
According to helpguide.org, Binge eating disorder is a common eating disorder characterized by three key features: Frequent episodes of uncontrollable binge eating Feeling extremely distressed or upset during or after bingeing Unlike bulimia, there are no regular attempts to “make up” for the binges through vomiting, fasting, or over-exercising Now, with that being said, I have known people who have had binge-eating disorders with incredibly fast metabolisms, which kept them "skinny", but others who would gain weight as well. If you believe you may have a binge-eating disorder, I highly recommend speaking to someone and the 7cups family will always be here to listen!
Profile: CriesFromSmiles123
CriesFromSmiles123
July 19th, 2020 12:40pm
Let's start with the definition. "Binge-eating disorder is a serious eating disorder in which you frequently consume unusually large amounts of food and feel unable to stop eating." Just that much, nothing out of that definition! Being skinny, overweight, or with a normal body size doesn't explain if you are eating healthy; are anorexic; struggling with BED, or going through bulimia nervosa. Now, you would ask me, if the weight doesn't define my ED, then what does? To be general, anxiety. Ever heard about coping mechanisms? Acts we do in order to cut ourselves off from our insecurities and worries? Now, I think you are already getting there. Having an ED is waayyyyyyy lesser about your body, then it is about your anxiety. It is a method to cope, just a rather unhealthy one. Now that you know, it is anxiety that gives us ED, there is another question. Who suffers from anxiety? In one word, EVERYONE! Each one of us has been anxious at one point in our lives or the other. So, this alone proves that whatever gender, body size, race, country, or surroundings we are in, everyone has a logical reason to get an ED. And that reason is ANXIETY! In order to search for better coping mechanisms, we need to go through a recovery process. Because the ED voice is stronger than our own. And it's not a person screaming stereotype phrases "Just eat more!" or "It's all in the head!" that is going to change the BS we are cooking in our head, it's a combination of the concrete recovery process, and a stern will power to fight. EDs are tough, messy, filthy, and devastating. And as you all have moved this far, I know you can all do it!!!
Profile: BrandiListens
BrandiListens
July 10th, 2016 6:40am
Absolutely! Binge eating can happen to anyone of any size. Binging is when someone cannot stop themselves from consuming massive and harmful amounts of food at once. It is also possible to be a binge eater and anorexic. The two are not mutually exclusive.
Anonymous
January 6th, 2019 4:43am
yes, it is possible to have a binge eating disorder but still be skinny Eating disorders affect people in different ways. Some people have very fast motabalisms and so even if they have a bing eating disorder, their body remains skinny. You can be anorexic and overweight, binge and be underweight, etc. You can be any weight and have any eating disorder. It sometimes seems that we forget it's a mental illness that can sometimes affect you physically. No matter what, you still deserve help. when no matter what you eat you are still not getting fat, it's just the fact that you have a fast metabolism and it keeps you skinny. your organism deals with food extremely well.
Profile: NumberEleven
NumberEleven
July 14th, 2016 4:28pm
Yes, people have different metabolic rates, some people burn off more calories without doing anything.
Profile: AJupiter
AJupiter
February 7th, 2018 7:45am
it is! yeah, when no matter what you eat you are still not getting fat, it's just the fact that you have a fast metabolism and it keeps you skinny. your organism deals with food extremely well
Anonymous
June 27th, 2020 2:16pm
Yes, its called having a fast metabolism, but it will soon start getting slower as you get older so I suggest trying to stop the binge eating before you start gaining weight. Maybe when ever you feel like snacking drink a glass of water or do ten pushups bc it would help, also I have to do loads more words so I’m just gonna type, do you know that pairing a polo neck top under a summer dress looks really nice but only wear it on coldish days bc it gets pretty hot. Anyway byeee have a nice day.
Anonymous
July 4th, 2020 10:37pm
I think so. It's a mental health issue and isnt defined by a body shape or weight. I'm coming to terms with the fact that I might have BED. But I've always been fairly slim. Right now I'm going through a horrible binge phase where I hate myself and stuff myself alternately. I have a slight tummy but am still considered "skinny". However I havent had the guts to weigh myself since the binge phase started. But at this point my body's metabolism is so messed up, I'm not sure it even knows how to process food anymore. In short, I dont think a single body shape can define an ED
Anonymous
August 10th, 2017 3:56pm
I do not know I'm really sorry , ask a doctor please , that will help maybe even ask your parents ..
Profile: Hope
Hope
March 2nd, 2017 11:07am
Yes! it is possible indeed. It is true that the majority of people dealing with binge eating disorder are overweight BUT that doesn't mean a skinny person can't have a binge eating disorder. There can be many reasons why you are skinny even when you have a BED, like, your metabolism is fast or you swing back and forth between anorexia and binge eating disorder or you have cycles where you eat a lot and then you don't eat. Eating disorders are complicated but usually, you don't need to look a certain way to be able to have one.
Profile: GeorgieCunningham
GeorgieCunningham
September 2nd, 2016 3:14am
Absolutely. Its a common misconception that everyone with an eating disorder has the same body type. Bulimics can be heavier-built and binge-eaters can be very skinny. It's not about your body type but about your relationship with food. If you suspect you or someone you know has a binge-eating disorder it;s important to get help, even if they don't 'look' sick.
Anonymous
November 4th, 2018 12:07am
Yes as it depends on what you are binging and how big your binges are. It is possible to binge on something that has very few calories. It also depends on how frequently you are binging. If you are binging once a day on low calorie foods, you can be skinny. Even if you are binging multiple times per day on foods that have few calories, you can still be thin. A person typically gains weight because they are eating high amounts of foods with high calories. If you are eating a lot of low calories foods, you can be skinny
Profile: silverlemonade
silverlemonade
July 7th, 2016 2:06pm
Yes, it is possible. By definition, binge eating means "compulsion of overeating within a period of time". By that, a person could have binge eating for this week and not eating over the new few weeks. Furthermore, we can't rule out genetic factor affecting one's physical weight.
Profile: verboseIcarus42
verboseIcarus42
July 21st, 2016 1:03am
Definitely. Some people with extremely fast metabolisms binge eat and remain thin because their body simply works that way.
Profile: Brittneym101
Brittneym101
July 24th, 2016 10:10pm
Yes, anyone can have any type of eating disorder you don't have to be a certain size, race and/or age. We all can get them.
Profile: kyralistens
kyralistens
July 24th, 2016 11:59pm
Of course it is possible. Eating disorders do not have a certain size. Eating disorders are defined by a way of thinking and eating habits. Your size does not invalidate your disorder.
Profile: SofiaAddilynn
SofiaAddilynn
July 28th, 2016 3:18am
It is possible to have binge eating disorder and still be skinny. You could have a very great metabolism, be very active, or not have had the disorder for long.
Profile: blueskiesforyou
blueskiesforyou
March 28th, 2020 11:16pm
Yes ! Having an eating disorder has nothing to do with your physical size. An eating disorder has more to do with wanting to gain or obtain control when you are feeling out of control in other areas of your life. Control what you eat. ,how you eat or purge what you have eaten creates a false sense of control for people Who have a eating disorder. People who have eating disorders can be any size , shape, race or sex or even age ! It has nothing to do with being skinny or not skinny. It usually is a symptom of something else that is going wrong for the person
Anonymous
April 30th, 2020 5:52am
Yes of course! There are no specifics or requirements in terms of physical size to have a binge eating disorder. Those with binge eating disorders are not just “overweight” or “skinny,” as anyone can have an eating disorder regardless of their physical body or appearance! The binge eating disorder has an effect on the body as well as the mind, but it is certainly not just classified as those who are “larger” in size, or those who are “smaller” in size. It’s like saying an apple is only an apple if it’s red! Disorders can be seen in many different ways whether it be more or less common. Remember, stay positive! :)
Profile: LilySoft
LilySoft
April 9th, 2020 5:10pm
Yes, it is absolutely to suffer from binge eating while having a thin body. While eating disorders could potentially affect one's visible physique, people of all sizes suffer from all types of eating disorders. I used to ritualistically binge eat through middle school despite appearing healthy, and it turned out to be a coping mechanism for stress. If anything, appearing thin made my binge eating worse, as I felt like it would have no adverse effects on my health. As soon as I identified that binge eating was an outlet for my stress, I attempted to find another focus, in my case gardening, to channel energy into. Still, it is important to know that there are a multitude of causes for eating disorders, and not everyone will find the same way to cope with binge eating.
Profile: BigEd
BigEd
April 8th, 2020 1:49am
Yes it is. Metabolism will play a big part in all of this. Everyone's body will process food in different ways. When you combine this with the emotional state that someone might be in, it makes it very possible. When you have these two pieces in conjunction with each other it can make for a very scary situation. We as active listeners need to understand that these situations are not something that people get into voluntarily. I just encourage that we take people for who they are and not judge by things like this that they may be going through.
Anonymous
September 2nd, 2018 8:13pm
Of course it is possible. Eating disorders are about your mind, not about your body, your weight etc. your metabolism may be really fast, so you’ll stay skinny at any situation, but it is still about your feelings, your mind, your mental health. It is the reason why we are visiting psychiatrists with eating disorders, not order doctors to make as just a right diet. Recovering from eating disorder is, first of all, about living in harmony with your body. Your weight index can not tell you that you do or do not have an eating disorder or your disorder is “wrong”. So, answering the question after all. It’s possible to have a binge eating disorder with any weight, any body type. It does not make your disorder “fake”.
Profile: NushFar
NushFar
March 15th, 2020 4:56pm
Yes it is possible. But mostly not in a healthy way. But if you binge eat healthy food and exercise in proper way, it is possible. Better to stay healthy than skinny though. But if you are referring to bulimia nervosa, most people suffering from it don’t maintain it in a healthy. They sometimes eat a lot and out of guilt force themselves to throw up. Or sometimes they exercise in a obsessive manner which is not healthy at all. Being skinny should not be the goal. Rather people should be comfortable in their own skin and take care of them properly. They need to focus on healthy diet instead.
Profile: consideratecrisp4266
consideratecrisp4266
March 14th, 2020 12:26pm
Yes, people with eating disorders come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes people with binge eating disorder go through a phase of "purge" during which they eat little or nothing at all, to balance out the binge eating episode or to punish themselves. BMI is under no circumstances indicative of whether you have an eating disorder or not. It has more to do with your relationship with food than your actual body weight and it's a shame these stereotypes are the reason many people don't seek treatment or are not taken seriously. Binge eating disorder is kinda new to the game compared to anorexia nervosa and bulimia and it needs to be taken into consideration very seriously