Prevalence of binge eating 40.5% in U.S. high school students
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The prevalence of binge eating at least one day in the past 30 days is 40.5% in U.S. high school students, according to a study published online Oct. 15 in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Ryan Saelee, Ph.D., from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, and colleagues described the national prevalence estimates of binge eating overall and by demographic characteristics among 6,898 U.S. high school students with binge eating information available from the nationally representative Youth Risk Behavior Survey.
The researchers found that 40.5% of U.S. high school students reported binge eating at least one day in the past 30 days during 2025, and 17.2% reported three or more days of binge eating. The prevalence of binge eating on three or more days was higher for female than male students (18.6% versus 15.9%) and for Hispanic, multiracial and Black versus white and Middle Eastern or North African students (20.5%, 19.6% and 18.7% versus 14.6% and 9.9%, respectively).
The prevalence of binge eating on three or more days was higher for students who reported using social media hourly or more, having poor mental health, having persistent sadness or hopelessness, or having seriously considered attempting suicide. These associations were seen in both female and male students.
"Looking at the study, it did seem much higher than I think what many of us are even thinking could be the number," Aateqa Ismail, M.D., from the Eating Disorder Program at Northwell Cohen Children's Medical Center, said in a statement.
Publication details
Ryan Saelee et al., Prevalence of Binge Eating Behavior Among High School Students and Associations with Social Media Use, Mental Health, and Suicide Risk — Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2025, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (2026). DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.su7501a5
Journal information: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
Key medical concepts
Binge EatingSuicidal ideationHopelessness
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PsychiatryPsychology & Mental healthPediatricsChildren's health Who's behind this story?
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