“Is binge eating a sign of depression?”
My daughter is 15 years old and of late she has started binge eating at odd hours. She is gaining excess weight also and I am getting worried. Could this be a sign of depression?
12 Answers
Not necessarily although all eating disorders are frequently accompanied by depression. Or maybe she is just growing and having hormonal changes. Teenagers often gain weight during puberty. If seh is sad and isolated, her grades are falling and seh hates herself - take action. A therapist, a psychiatrist. A supportive safe environment and a healthy lifestyle are all helpful
She could have an eating disorder and should be evaluated.
Jan Fawcett
Psychiatrist
It can be. She should see a therapist.
Jan Fawcett, MD
Jan Fawcett, MD
It could be a sign of depression or binge eating disorder. I would recommend a psychiatric evaluation
It is a sign of binge eating disorder, which is a separate problem often accompanied by depression. It is best treated with psychotherapy (CBT or internal family systems)
and Vyvanse.
and Vyvanse.
When someone's depressed and they binge eat, it can be hard to know if one condition causes the other or if they're unrelated. It's common for people to get depressed after a binge. About half of the people who binge eat have a mood disorder such as depression. Some people binge in an attempt to numb sad, hopeless feelings. Many of those who binge eat and aren't currently depressed, have a history of depression.
Your daughter should be seen by an eating disorder specialist, as both depression and binge eating are treatable conditions.
Victor M. Santiago-Noa, MD, PhD
Your daughter should be seen by an eating disorder specialist, as both depression and binge eating are treatable conditions.
Victor M. Santiago-Noa, MD, PhD
This is usually a symptom of other illnesses like depression. She should see a child psychiatrist or therapist ASAP. It often times responds to attention sooner than later and should include other family members as well.
Good luck.
Good luck.
There are many reasons for increased appetite and subsequent weight gain. Anxiety, depression, binge eating disorder are certainly possibilities, but physical illnesses can also cause increased appetite and weight gain. Diabetes, thyroid disease and others can cause this behavior. It is best to have a complete physical done by the pediatrician or primary care provider and then a psychiatric consultation if no physicall illnesses are detected.
Binge eating can be a disorder by itself and is not only associated with depression, although can be one of the signs.
It could be a sign of depression. However, Binge Eating disorder is in itself a disorder that also could be comorbid with any other mental disorder like depression. Good news is that it is treatable.
She may be binge eating due to various reasons. Atypical depression can present with increased appetite or she may be overeating to manage her stress. I recommend having her evaluated by her primary care provider first for a medical check up and then request a referral for additional evaluation by a mental health provider as needed.
She needs medical evaluation to rule out endocrine problems.
