'Binge Eating Can Affect People In Any Body'

Dr. Courtney Crisp, a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in treating eating disorders, told Newsweek that despite being very common, binge eating is often misunderstood.

"Binge eating can affect people in any kind of body, and there are several key factors that separate binge eating from overeating or emotional eating," Crisp, who did not treat McKenzie-Wills, said. "In order for it to be a binge, it needs to be an objectively large amount of food, it must feel out of control, and one must feel guilty or distressed afterward.

"People's relationships with their bodies, food, and emotions are complicated and take time. Recovery often involves learning how to nourish oneself both physically and emotionally."

When helping individuals come to terms with their binge eating, Crisp adds that they treat it "like any other eating disorder."

"We recommend intuitive eating and a 'health at every size' perspective," she said. "This involves looking at weight and health in a more holistic way, that goes beyond just focusing on the number. Prescribing weight loss or restrictive diets can often make binge eating worse.

Read full article published on Newsweek here.