When Food Becomes Safety: The Intersection of Trauma and Binge Eating Disorder
Binge Eating Disorder (BED), has become one of the more prevalent yet misunderstood eating disorders. BED is characterized by recurring episodes of consuming large amounts of food as a reflection of a profound sense of emotional distress and loss of control, and occurs regardless of socioeconomic status, cultural background, or gender. The disorder can bring severe social, psychological, and physiological consequences. A growing body of clinical research has elevated the disorder from emotional coping and behavioral dysregulation to a more complex reality—for many individuals, BED does not start with food, but rather with trauma.
Whether trauma is acute, relational, chronic, or developmental, it can disrupt the core systems of emotional processing, self-regulation, and embodiment. The disruptions that are inherent to trauma can disrupt one’s internal conditions, leading to binge eating becoming more of a strategy for survival than a symptom of impulsivity or an absence of willpower. The overlap between BED and trauma illustrates how people learn to avoid tough emotions, how stress impacts the brain, and how shame can strongly influence behavior.
This blog explores the multidimensional relationship between binge eating disorder and trauma, including how experiences of trauma increase one’s vulnerability to the disorder, how symptoms of trauma can promote cycles of bingeing, and how psychotherapy can insert trauma-informed care into effective treatment. By sharing the interconnected pathways between trauma and BED, the blog aims to arm therapists, clinicians, and families with a comprehensive, compassionate, and research-informed understanding of what binge eating disorder is, in ways that recognize the deep resilience of individuals who have turned to food as a way to not only cope and self-soothe, but to survive in the aftermath of overwhelming traumatic experiences.
Understanding Binge Eating Disorder
Binge Eating Disorder, an eating disorder that is clinically recognized, is characterized by recurring episodes of eating large quantities of food within a short period of time. A subjective sense of control loss and significant emotional distress often accompany the eating episode. Unlike other eating disorders, such as bulimia nervosa, BED does not involve regular compensatory behaviors, such as fasting and purging, a distinction that can contribute to its underdiagnosis (Echeverri-Alvarado et al., 2020; Quilliot et al., 2019). The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR) (2022) identifies features associated with Binge Eating Disorder, including eating until uncomfortably full, eating quickly, eating alone due to embarrassment, eating when not hungry, experiencing intense feelings of disgust, shame, and guilt after episodes of binging.
BED is the most prevalent eating disorder in the United States (NIMH, n.d.). The disorder affects individuals of all genders, ages, and body sizes, and expands across diverse populations (Hudson et al., 2007). Despite BED’s prevalence, it is often misunderstood as a matter of lifestyle choices or willpower, rather than a serious mental health disorder (Convertino & Mendoza, 2023; Groth et al., 2020). The stigma that surrounds eating behaviors and weight can further obscure diagnosis and treatment, especially for those with larger body sizes, due to possible medical bias or referral delays for psychological treatment (Palmisano et al., 2016). Systemic factors such as food insecurity, healthcare disparities, weight-based discrimination and stigma within medical systems, socioeconomic barriers to treatment, and cultural messaging that equates thinness with worth may intensify feelings of internalized shame, which can perpetuate binge eating behaviors and further discourage individuals from seeking assistance.
Binge eating disorders develop through a mix of psychology, biology, and life experiences, including trauma. Brain systems affecting impulse control, reward, and hunger can increase vulnerability in some people, while difficulty with distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and stable self-identity also contribute (Feinson & Hornik-Lurie, 2016). Social factors, such as body image, weight stigma, and ongoing stress, add another layer of risk. It is important to note that binge eating is not just about food; for many individuals, it becomes a way to manage and cope with intense emotions, allowing them to briefly feel safe, in control, and numb emotional pain (Frost et al., 2025). These factors are especially true for those who have a history of trauma, where more usual ways of self-soothing may have been disrupted (Fischer et al., 2014; Quilliot et al., 2019). Looking at BED from a wider therapeutic lens and a more compassionate perspective can clarify how traumatic experiences make someone more prone to binge eating and highlight the importance of trauma-informed therapy for long-term recovery (Frost et al., 2025).
Trauma: Foundations and Mechanisms
Trauma occurs when experiences overwhelm a person’s ability to cope, disrupting their sense of safety and affecting how they relate to themselves, others, and the world. Trauma is defined not just by what happened, but by its lasting effects on the body, mind, and relationships (Frost et al., 2025). It can result from a single event, ongoing stress, or repeated experiences, especially during childhood, and can shape how individuals regulate emotions and manage stress later in life, including increasing vulnerability to eating disorders (Groth et al., 2020; Quilliot et al., 2019; Fisher et al., 2014).
Trauma also changes how the body and brain respond to stress. The nervous system may remain on high alert, making it difficult to feel calm or safe, even when no danger is present (Convertino & Mendoza, 2023). This can lead to emotional overwhelm, numbness, or impulsive reactions, as the brain’s self-control systems are less effective under stress.
Emotionally and relationally, trauma can make it hard to understand or soothe feelings, and can impact self-worth and trust in others. Shame, fear of rejection, and disconnection are common, particularly when trauma occurs in close relationships (Palmisano et al., 2016; Serra et al., 2020). In this context, behaviors such as binge eating may develop as ways to cope with distress or to regain a sense of comfort and control; they are not personal failures.
Trauma as a Risk Pathway for Binge Eating Disorder
Many individuals who struggle with binge eating have a history of trauma, especially experiences that involve feeling powerless, unsafe, or unsupported emotionally. Research consistently shows that people who were exposed to neglect, abuse, significant emotional pain, or chronic stress, particularly during childhood, are more likely to develop patterns of binge eating later in life (Groth et al., 2020; Palmisano et al., 2016; Quilliot et al., 2019). These early experiences can shape how a person learns to cope with emotions, stress, and relationships.
When an individual grows up in an environment where their needs are ignored, punished, or minimized, they may not learn healthy ways to manage uncomfortable feelings. Instead, food can become a dependable source of comfort (Groth et al., 2020, and eating, especially in large amounts, can temporarily soothe anxiety, anger, loneliness, or sadness (Echeverri-Alvarado et al., 2020). For the body and brain, binge eating may feel like a relief, even if that relief is short-lived.
Trauma can also lead to feelings of worthlessness, shame, or self-blame (Palmisano et al., 2016). These emotions often lie quietly beneath the surface but can have a profound influence on behavior. Binge eating may provide a brief escape from painful feelings or provide temporary relief by numbing emotional pain (Serra et al., 2020). For some people, binge episodes are also linked to dissociation, a feeling of being disconnected from one’s body or surroundings; this can make it easier to be unaware of eating beyond physical fullness (Palmisano et al., 2016).
Additionally, experiences of bullying, weight stigma, or medical shame can deepen the cycle. When people feel they are being judged or misunderstood because of their bodies or eating behaviors, they may withdraw or hide their struggles (Palmisano et al., 2016). This isolation often increases emotional distress, making binge eating more likely.
Understanding trauma as a pathway to binge eating helps reframe the disorder. Binge eating is not simply about food or a lack of control; it is often an understandable response to emotional pain and needs that have not been met (Convertino & Mendoza, 2023; Serra et al., 2020). Recognizing this connection allows for more compassionate support and more effective healing approaches that address, together, both eating behaviors and trauma.
Maintenance Cycles: How Trauma Symptoms Reinforce Binge Eating
Trauma can keep binge eating going by making it harder to manage stress and emotions. When difficult feelings such as sadness, anxiety, anger, or loneliness arise, the nervous system may quickly become overwhelmed (Convertino & Mendoza, 2023). Binge eating can provide temporary relief by numbing emotional pain, calming distress, or offering a sense of control and comfort. Although this relief does not last, the brain remembers the short-term soothing effect, making binge eating more likely to occur again during future moments of distress (Palmisano et al., 2016).
After a binge episode, many people experience guilt, shame, or self-criticism. These painful emotions often lead to secrecy, withdrawal, or self-judgement, which increases emotional stress, rather than relieving it (Quilliot et al., 2019). As stress builds, the urge to binge may return as a way to escape these feelings, creating a cycle of repetition that feels nearly impossible to break (Peterson et al., 2000). Trauma can intensify this pattern by reinforcing beliefs, such as “I don’t deserve to care,” or “something must be wrong with me,” which further undermine self-compassion.
Over time, this cycle can also affect an individual’s relationship with their body. Trauma may lead to feeling disconnected from physical signals, such as hunger and fullness, making it harder to notice when the body has had enough food as a person continues to eat (Groth et al., 2020). Understanding how trauma maintains the binge eating cycle helps shift the focus away from blame and, instead, towards healing (Peterson et al., 2000). With supportive, trauma-informed care, individuals can learn new ways to regulate emotions, reconnect with their bodies, and interrupt this cycle with greater safety and compassion.
Trauma-Informed Treatment Approaches for Binge Eating Disorder
Effective treatment for binge eating disorder works best when it addresses both eating behaviors and the underlying emotional wounds caused by trauma. Trauma-informed care begins by creating a sense of safety, choice, and trust within the therapeutic relationship (Peterson et al., 2000). Rather than focusing on control or restriction, therapy helps individuals understand their binge eating as a coping response and supports them in developing healthier ways to manage emotions and stress at a pace that feels safe (Convertino & Mendoza, 2023).
Healing from BED is not about eliminating urges in the short-term, but about building new tools and greater self-compassion. When trauma is addressed and acknowledged alongside eating behaviors, individuals can begin to feel safer in their bodies, less controlled by food, and more connected to their emotions (Convertino & Mendoza, 2023; Fischer et al., 2014). Trauma-informed treatment offers hope by supporting long-term healing, rather than temporary behavior changes.
The relationship between BED and trauma highlights that binge eating is not simply about willpower, lack of control, or food. For many people, binge eating develops as a way to cope with overwhelming emotions, unmet needs, and chronic stress rooted in past traumatic experiences. Understanding this connection helps shift the focus from self-blame and shame toward healing, meaning, and empathy.
When trauma is left unaddressed, binge eating can become part of a painful cycle that temporarily soothes distress, while reinforcing disconnection, guilt, and emotional suffering. Trauma-informed psychotherapy offers a different path, one that prioritizes compassion, safety, and skill-building, while gently addressing the underlying emotional wounds that drive eating behaviors. By recognizing binge eating as an adaptive response, rather than a personal failure, individuals can begin to develop healthier ways to regulate emotions and reconnect with their bodies.
Ultimately, healing from binge eating disorder involves more than changing eating habits; it requires addressing the underlying relational and emotional impacts of trauma. With appropriate, trauma-informed support, recovery becomes not only possible, but sustainable. This allows individuals to move forward toward greater self-understanding, emotional resilience, and a more compassionate relationship with themselves and food.
References
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