No one knows for sure what causes binge eating disorder. As many as half of all people with binge eating disorder have been
depressed in the past. Whether
depression causes binge eating disorder or whether binge eating disorder causes depression is not known for sure.
Emotional cues such as; anger, sadness, boredom, and anxiety can trigger binge eating. Impulsive behavior and certain other emotional problems can be more common in people with binge eating disorder. However, many people also claim that binging occurs regardless of their mood.
It is also unclear if dieting and binge eating are related. Some studies show that about half of all people with binge eating disorder had binge episodes before they started to diet.
Researchers also are looking into how brain chemicals and metabolism affect binge eating disorder, although this study is in its early stages