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NourishED Research
NourishED Research on Binge Eating Disorder
NourishED Research on Binge Eating Disorder
NourishED Research on Binge Eating Disorder
NourishED Research Foundation (NRFi) is a tax-exempt 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing awareness, prevention, treatment options, and clinical and lived experiences of eating disorders and other social justice issues. Learn about the research that motivated our foundation!
NourishED Research Internship Program
NourishED Research on Binge Eating Disorder
NourishED Research on Binge Eating Disorder
Our internship program equips aspiring researchers with the knowledge, training, mentorship, and experience needed to drive innovation in conscious, whole-health research. Competencies include cientific inquiry and literacy as well as preclinical-, clinical-, and contemplative approaches to research and care.
NourishED Research Projects (Learn About)
NourishED Research on Binge Eating Disorder
NourishED Research Projects (Learn About)
All NourishED Research Projects share a common goal: to improve the collective awareness, understanding, clear-seeing (Prajna), healing, and lived experiences of clinincal and nonclincal adults with binge eating disorder and other issues related to health disparity and self-efficacy.
NourishED Publications (Our Impact)
Participate in NourishED Research (Participant Page)
NourishED Research Projects (Learn About)
Thanks to the support of our community, we have been able to make a significant impact over the years. This occurs at many levels, including our high-impact-factor publications, which help to shape ongoing research and clinical care. Learn more about NourishED publications
Participate in NourishED Research (Participant Page)
Participate in NourishED Research (Participant Page)
Participate in NourishED Research (Participant Page)
We prioritize research that includes the 95% of adults with binge eating disorder who never receive a formal diagnosis or self-recognition, the 60-90% who never pursue or receive standard treatment, and all race, ethnic, religious, sex, gender, & socio-economic status' (Bray et al., 2022, 2025).
Support NourishED Research (Donate)
Participate in NourishED Research (Participant Page)
Participate in NourishED Research (Participant Page)
Your donations help us continue our mission and support our community. Every dollar counts and will make a difference in the lives of those we serve. Donations support our Research Internship Program, Publication Fees, the NourishED Research Summit, Overhead costs, and More!.
NRFi Research: Binge Eating Disorder
What is Binge Eating Disorder (BED)?
- Binge eating disorder (BED) is a psychiatric diagnosis characterized by:
- Rapid consumption of objectively large amounts of food
- ...that occurs in a discrete, 2-hour time period.
- Without compensation (e.g., purging).
- Associated with loss of control and distress.
- Often accompanied by feeling of guilt or shame.
- Binge eating disorder (BED) has:
- High lifetime prevalence rates (5%–31%)
- High comorbidity with anxiety, depression, obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes.
- Significantly impaired quality of life.
Binge Eating Disorder Treatment Barriers
- Standard-of-care treatments for binge eating (BED) have:
- Low treatment rates (38.3%–43.6%).
- High recurrence rates (49%–64%).
- High rates of treatment dissatisfaction.
- High rates of early discontinuation of care (dropout).
- Studies find that 55 - 95% of individuals with BED:
- Don't know they have an eating disorder (95%).
- Never receive a formal diagnosis (95%).
- Don't recognize the need for treatment (95%).
- Never receive or pursue standard treatment (56%–87%).
- Do not have access to healthcare (~85%).
NRFi Research Agenda I
- NRFi seeks to raise awareness about BED and test new treatment options that are:
- Free or low cost.
- Remote or community-based.
- Socioculturally/demographically sensitive and inclusive.
- Easily accessible to those in need.
- At NRFi, we are dedicated to advancing research that supports treatment solutions for eating disorders, for everyone, especially those who are under-resourced and historically overlooked by research often.
Paradigm Shifts in Binge Eating Disorder
- Outdated "SWAG" stereotype ascribes eating disorders to thin/Skinny, White, Affluent, [cis-gendered] Girls [females] with restriction-type eating disorders.
- This demographic has traditionally saturated treatment-seeking populations (and research samples in turn) but does not accurately represent binge eating disorder.
- Emerging data find disproportionately high prevalence rates of BED in minority, marginalized, and under-resourced populations historically overlooked in the field.
- Emerging data finds high prevalence/comorbidity rates of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and trauma (abuse, neglect, invalidating environments, PTSD) in BED.
- These findings suggest a different pathology than that associated with the "SWAG" stereotype.
Binge Eating Disorder is a Social Justice Issue
- Black, Indigenous, & People of Color (BIPOC):
- Higher prevalence rates of BED vs. white peers.
- Make up <10% of participants in BED research.
- Less likely to be diagnosed or receive care.
- Sex & Gender Minorities (LGBTQ2+):
- Increased risk for eating disorders & BED.
- 2.75 times greater prevalence of adult BED in non-heterosexual U.S. Survey respondents (2.2% vs. 0.8%).
- Higher BED prevalence in agender, transgender, and non-binary young adults vs. cis-gendered counterparts (females: 28%; males: 64%; non-binary: 73%).
- Higher eating disorder pathology scores in transgender males vs. transgender females.
Binge Eating Disorder is a Social Justice Issue
- Food Insecurity & Binge Eating Disorder
- 1.65 times greater BED prevalence in food insecure vs. food secure participants (8.6% vs. 5.2%; p = 0.02).
- Use of government assistance at <18 yrs (e.g., welfare, food stamps, SNAP) increases BED risk 3-fold.
- Food Pantry Studies (San Antonio, TX; 2015-16):
- 52% of respondents report deliberately trying to limit food or going >8 hours without food.
- Which significantly correlates with eating disorder pathology severity (r = 0.25, p = 0.0001).
- And higher BMI.
NRFi Research Agenda II
- NRFi is dedicated to catalyzing breakthroughs in understanding, preventing, treating, and living with eating disorders and related issues of justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, access, oppression, and invalidation.
- This is achieved through prioritizing community-based research, patient narratives, and equal-access treatment options for eating disorders, for everyone.
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers are the backbone of our organization. We offer a variety of opportunities for individuals and groups to get involved and make a difference in the lives of those we serve.
Hi there!
Welcome to NourishED! We're a 501(c)(3) non-profit research organization that uses uses research to improve awareness, prevention, treatment outcomes, and lived experiences of eating disorders and other mental health disparities. We're so glad you're here!