Binge eating disorder symptoms may be more prevalent among adults with type 2 diabetes than previously recognised, according to a cross-sectional study that highlights the need for greater clinical awareness of this often-overlooked condition.
Researchers from the University of Southern Denmark surveyed more than 2,000 adults with type 2 diabetes enrolled in the Danish Center for Strategic Research in Type 2 Diabetes cohort. Participants completed the Binge Eating Disorder Questionnaire, a validated nine-item assessment based on DSM-5 and ICD-11 diagnostic criteria.
The findings, published in Diabetic Medicine, revealed that 2.9% of participants screened positive for probable binge eating disorder (BED), characterised by weekly binge eating episodes with loss of control and significant emotional distress. An additional 3.1% reported subclinical symptoms. Together, approximately 6% of adults in the study experienced binge eating symptoms.
Those with probable BED were diagnosed with diabetes at a younger median age of 52 years, compared with 60 years among those without symptoms. Binge eating symptoms were more than 11 times more common among people with severe obesity (BMI of 35 kg/m² or higher) than among those in the normal weight range. Women were 54% more likely than men to report symptoms.
The study also linked binge eating symptoms to poorer mental health outcomes. Affected individuals scored lower on emotional well-being measures and were more likely to experience depression and anxiety and to use antidepressant medication.
Previous research has reported widely varying BED rates among people with type 2 diabetes, ranging from 2.5% to 29.6%, compared with a lifetime prevalence of 1.9% in the general population. The researchers suggest that routine diabetes care should include screening for eating disorder symptoms.
Source: Nybo PF et al. Prevalence of binge eating disorder symptoms and associated characteristics in Danish adults with type 2 diabetes: A cross-sectional study. Diabetic Medicine (2026). DOI: 10.1111/dme.70489
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