A comprehensive government survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has revealed significant prevalence of binge eating among U.S. high school students. The biennial Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which included nearly 7,000 participants, found that approximately 40% of respondents reported experiencing binge eating in the previous month. Additionally, 17% of surveyed students indicated they had engaged in binge eating within the three days immediately preceding the survey.
The survey defined binge eating as consuming an unusually large amount of food in a short time period while experiencing a loss of control over eating habits or an inability to stop despite feeling full. This marked the first occasion the Youth Risk Behavior Survey included questions about binge eating, and represented the first collection of disordered eating data by the survey in a decade. The inclusion of binge eating questions followed a decade-long advocacy effort by eating disorder research and advocacy organizations.
Analysis of the data revealed demographic disparities in binge eating prevalence. Female students reported higher rates at 19% compared to 16% for male students. Binge eating was also more commonly reported among Black, Hispanic, and multiracial students at 19-20%, compared to white students at 15% and Middle Eastern or North American students at 10%. Researchers noted that these findings challenge prevailing stereotypes that associate eating disorders primarily with white females.
The survey also identified correlations between binge eating and frequent social media use, defined as checking platforms at least hourly, along with poor mental health outcomes and suicidality. Experts attributed some prevalence to the structure of the modern food environment, noting that ultra-processed foods are engineered for overconsumption and heavily marketed. Researchers emphasized that adequate funding and epidemiological data are necessary to address disordered eating as a significant public health concern.
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