Binge Eating Disorder in Type 2 Diabetes Linked to Earlier Onset

Prevalence in the Danish Diabetes Cohort

Roughly 6% of surveyed adults with type 2 diabetes reported symptoms of binge eating disorder (BED). Researchers from the University of Southern Denmark evaluated over 2,000 participants enrolled in the Danish Center for Strategic Research in Type 2 Diabetes (DD2) cohort. The findings appeared in Diabetic Medicine.

Participants completed the nine-item Binge Eating Disorder Questionnaire. That tool uses criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) and the International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision (ICD-11).

The survey identified 72 participants with probable BED, representing 2.9% of the sample. Another 76 participants, or 3.1%, reported subclinical symptoms where episodes occurred weekly without high emotional distress.

Earlier Diabetes Onset and Higher Weight Correlation

Adults with probable binge eating disorder received their type 2 diabetes diagnosis at a younger median age. Participants with probable BED received a diagnosis at a median age of 52. Those without binge eating symptoms had a median diagnosis age of 60.

Body mass index (BMI) strongly correlated with symptom frequency. Symptoms were over 11 times more common among people with a BMI of 35 kg/m² or higher compared to those in the normal weight category. Female participants were 54% more likely to report binge eating symptoms than male participants.

Co-Occurring Anxiety and Antidepressant Use

Participants reporting binge eating symptoms scored lower on standard measures of emotional well-being. Researchers linked survey answers to Denmark's national health registries to collect prescription records and bloodwork. This data showed higher rates of diagnosed depression, anxiety, and antidepressant use among participants reporting symptoms.

Depression affects up to 25% of individuals managing type 2 diabetes. Binge eating introduces additional challenges characterized by eating unusually large quantities of food with a feeling of lost control. People experiencing these symptoms can talk to their clinician about nutrition counseling and psychological support.

Limitations of Self-Reported Screening Methods

The study relied on an online questionnaire rather than structured clinical interviews to categorize participants. Self-reported answers can identify probable cases, but formal diagnosis requires an evaluation by a trained healthcare professional. The study focused exclusively on Danish adults, which may limit how directly the findings apply to other populations.

Previous studies have reported binge eating disorder rates ranging from 2.5% to 29.6% in diabetes populations. Lifetime prevalence in the general population sits around 1.9%. The authors stated that the relationship between metabolic regulation and eating behavior requires further clinical research.