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Review

Binge Eating Disorder and Metabolic Syndrome: Shared Mechanisms and Clinical Implications

by
Michel Alagha
1,
Firas Al-Alam
2,†,
Karmen Saroufine
1,†,
Linda Elias
1,‡,
Mark Klaimi
3,‡,
Ghassan Nabbout
1,
Frederic Harb
1,
Sami Azar
1,
Nayla Nahas
2 and
Hilda E. Ghadieh
1,*
1
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of Balamand, Al-Koura, Tripoli P.O. Box 100, Lebanon
2
Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, University of Balamand, Al-Koura, Tripoli P.O. Box 100, Lebanon
3
Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, University of Balamand, Al-Koura, Tripoli P.O. Box 100, Lebanon
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
‡
These authors also contributed equally to this work.
Healthcare 2025, 13(5), 482; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13050482
Submission received: 12 January 2025 / Revised: 14 February 2025 / Accepted: 21 February 2025 / Published: 23 February 2025
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Abstract

Background: Binge eating disorder (BED) is characterized by episodes of uncontrollable eating, defined by the rapid consumption of large quantities of food over a short period. This condition is associated with a variety of psychological and non-psychological factors, including behavioral, biological, genetic, neurological, and pharmacological influences, all of which adversely affect patients’ daily lives. BED is linked to numerous health consequences, such as obesity, atherosclerosis, diabetes, chronic pain, and hypertension. Although BED is not exclusive to individuals with obesity, it is more prevalent in this population, who also face a heightened risk of developing metabolic syndrome (MetS). The latter is a cluster of five risk factors—obesity, hyperlipidemia, hyperinsulinemia, hypertension, and hyperglycemia—that significantly increase the likelihood of chronic diseases. Methods: This narrative review synthesizes existing research to explore the association between BED and MetS, examining shared pathophysiological mechanisms and clinical implications. It also highlights the role of escalating food insecurity and ongoing political, economic, and health crises in the development of BED. Results: BED is significantly associated with MetS components, including hypertension, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidemia, all contributing to increased morbidity and mortality. Beyond body weight, behavioral, genetic, biological, and neurological factors mediate this relationship. Conclusions: BED is strongly linked to MetS through shared behavioral, genetic, and biological pathways. Early detection, integrated management strategies, and further research are crucial to addressing the public health challenges posed by this association.
Keywords: binge eating disorder; metabolic syndrome; obesity; genetic factors; behavioral factors; neurological factors; biological factors; food insecurity binge eating disorder; metabolic syndrome; obesity; genetic factors; behavioral factors; neurological factors; biological factors; food insecurity

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MDPI and ACS Style

Alagha, M.; Al-Alam, F.; Saroufine, K.; Elias, L.; Klaimi, M.; Nabbout, G.; Harb, F.; Azar, S.; Nahas, N.; Ghadieh, H.E. Binge Eating Disorder and Metabolic Syndrome: Shared Mechanisms and Clinical Implications. Healthcare 2025, 13, 482. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13050482

AMA Style

Alagha M, Al-Alam F, Saroufine K, Elias L, Klaimi M, Nabbout G, Harb F, Azar S, Nahas N, Ghadieh HE. Binge Eating Disorder and Metabolic Syndrome: Shared Mechanisms and Clinical Implications. Healthcare. 2025; 13(5):482. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13050482

Chicago/Turabian Style

Alagha, Michel, Firas Al-Alam, Karmen Saroufine, Linda Elias, Mark Klaimi, Ghassan Nabbout, Frederic Harb, Sami Azar, Nayla Nahas, and Hilda E. Ghadieh. 2025. "Binge Eating Disorder and Metabolic Syndrome: Shared Mechanisms and Clinical Implications" Healthcare 13, no. 5: 482. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13050482

APA Style

Alagha, M., Al-Alam, F., Saroufine, K., Elias, L., Klaimi, M., Nabbout, G., Harb, F., Azar, S., Nahas, N., & Ghadieh, H. E. (2025). Binge Eating Disorder and Metabolic Syndrome: Shared Mechanisms and Clinical Implications. Healthcare, 13(5), 482. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13050482

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