Chapter 7: Binge Eating Disorder Through an Intersectional Lens: Working With a Black Female Veteran

Binge eating disorder (BED) is considered the most prevalent eating disorder (ED) worldwide (Davis et al., 2020; Lindvall Dahlgren et al., 2017). Systematic reviews of epidemiological data for BED have estimated that global prevalence rates for BED are 0.9% (Erskine & Whiteford, 2018). In the U.S., prevalence rates for BED range from 0.85 to 2.6% (Davis et al., 2020; Micali et al., 2017; Udo & Grilo, 2018). BED and binge eating behaviors (e.g., eating an objectively large amount of food) have been well documented and studied. Key discrepancies, however, exist between diagnostic criteria for BED in the United States and internationally. Furthermore, across varying multicultural and social identity groups, notable differences in prevalence rates, clinical presentations/manifestations, and treatment considerations are present. Given these differences, this chapter will present research documenting binge eating behaviors and BED across diverse populations and then focus on a case of a Black, cisgender, heterosexual female veteran who was treated for BED.