"Binge eating disorder is the slum of eating disorders": a qualitative study of Norwegian women with binge eating disorder in the encounter with the healthcare system.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is the most prevalent eating disorder, yet it remains under-recognized and insufficiently understood in both healthcare and society. This leads to a lack of appropriate treatment options and challenges of identification within somatic healthcare. Our study aims to elucidate effective treatment approaches for BED by exploring patients' personal understandings of their treatment needs.

Methods

We interviewed 6 individuals diagnosed with BED regarding their healthcare experiences and analyzed the data using a modified qualitative method combining thematic and interpretive phenomenological analysis.

Results

The analysis resulted in three main themes: Lack of understanding, Trapped in body shame and Hope and movement, each with belong

SUBMITTER: Riise J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11921570 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature