Read more about the article Food Anxiety: When Worry About Eating Starts to Take Over

Food Anxiety: When Worry About Eating Starts to Take Over

For many people, food is meant to be a source of nourishment, connection, and even enjoyment. But for others, it can become a source of stress, overwhelming thoughts, and emotional distress. If you’ve ever found yourself constantly thinking about food, worrying about your eating habits, or feeling anxious before or after meals, you’re not alone. Food anxiety is more common than many people realize—and it exists across a wide range of mental health conditions, including eating disorders like binge eating disorder. At Center for Healthy Eating and Activity Research (CHEAR), we understand that these experiences are not about willpower. They reflect the complex interaction between mental health, biology, environment, and learned eating behaviors. What Is Food Anxiety? Food anxiety refers to persistent worry, stress, or fear related to food, eating, or food choices. It can show up in different ways and may or may not be tied to a diagnosed eating disorder. For some, it looks like constant thoughts about food intake or body weight. For others, it may involve fear of certain foods, avoiding…

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Read more about the article Binge Eating Disorder Treatment: What Happens After You Reach Out?

Binge Eating Disorder Treatment: What Happens After You Reach Out?

Reaching out for binge eating disorder treatment can feel like a big step. Many people live with binge eating disorder for months or even years before deciding to seek support. If you’ve recently taken that step, you may be wondering what happens next. At The Center for Healthy Eating and Activity Research (CHEAR) at the University of California San Diego, individuals and families often ask this exact question. Reaching out does not mean you are committing to a particular treatment right away. Instead, it opens the door to learning about your options and understanding what kind of support may be helpful. Understanding what typically happens after you reach out can make the experience feel less uncertain and more empowering. Understanding Binge Eating Disorder Binge eating disorder is a recognized eating disorder and mental health condition. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published by the American Psychiatric Association, it is characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating that occur at least once a week for three months. To meet the diagnostic criteria…

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Read more about the article Binge Eating Disorder: You Don’t Have to Hit Rock Bottom to Get Help

Binge Eating Disorder: You Don’t Have to Hit Rock Bottom to Get Help

For many people, there’s a quiet belief that help is only warranted once things become extreme — once weight gain feels unmanageable, binge eating episodes happen daily, or life feels completely out of control. But binge eating disorder doesn’t require a crisis to be real, diagnosable, or deserving of care. If food feels harder than it used to… If eating patterns feel stuck in a cycle you can’t seem to break… If your relationship with eating is affecting your mental health, physical health, or daily life… That’s enough reason to reach out. You don’t have to hit rock bottom to get help for binge eating. The Myth of “Rock Bottom” in Eating Disorders Binge eating disorder is often misunderstood — not just by the public, but by the people experiencing it. Unlike anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder may not involve purging, extreme restriction, or a visibly changing body shape. This sets it apart from other eating disorders, making accurate diagnosis and tailored treatment strategies essential. Because of this, many individuals minimize their…

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Read more about the article Is This Binge Eating Disorder — or Am I Just Struggling Right Now?

Is This Binge Eating Disorder — or Am I Just Struggling Right Now?

If you’ve ever asked yourself this question — quietly, late at night, or after another “why did that just happen?” moment — you’re not alone. A lot of people struggle with eating at different points in their lives. Stress ramps up. Schedules fall apart. Emotions get heavy. Food becomes comfort… or control… or something you think about far more than you want to. And at some point, it’s natural to wonder:Is this just a hard phase — or could this be binge eating disorder? There’s no shame in asking. And there’s no rush to label yourself. Let’s talk it through. First, a gentle truth: struggling with eating doesn’t mean you’ve failed Many people experience periods where eating feels chaotic. That doesn’t automatically mean you have an eating disorder. What usually raises concern isn’t one hard week or a few overeating moments — it’s when eating starts to feel out of control, emotionally draining, or repetitive in a way that’s hard to break. Binge eating disorder (BED) is a recognized mental health condition, and it’s also…

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Read more about the article Setting Realistic Eating Goals After the Holidays: Avoiding the Binge Eating Trap

Setting Realistic Eating Goals After the Holidays: Avoiding the Binge Eating Trap

For many people, the weeks after the holiday season can feel surprisingly heavy. Routines shift, social gatherings slow down, and there is often an unspoken pressure to “get back on track” with eating, weight, or health. If you’re noticing post-holiday binge eating, urges to restrict, or if you feel disappointed in yourself after overeating, you’re not alone — and nothing is “wrong” with you. You can recover from the effects of holiday overeating by putting in a little work to get your routine back on track. With some self-compassion and small steps, it’s possible to move forward and regain your balance. Eating behaviors are deeply connected to mental health, emotional health, stress, and environmental factors. Understanding what’s happening beneath the surface can help reduce binge eating risk and support a healthy relationship with food moving into the New Year. At the Center for Healthy Eating and Activity Research (CHEAR), clinicians and researchers regularly see an increase in eating distress after the holidays — not because people lack motivation, but because routines, stress levels, and emotional…

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