Reactive hypoglycemia in binge eating disorder, food addiction, and the comorbid phenotype: unravelling the metabolic drive to disordered eating behaviours.

People with BED or FA are prone to experiencing reactive hypoglycemia; FA severity may predict early and symptomatic hypoglycemia events. This can further reinforce disordered eating behaviours by promoting addictive responses, both biologically and behaviourally. These results inform professionals dealing with eating disorders about the need to refer patients for metabolic evaluation. On the other hand, clinicians dealing with obesity should screen for and address BED and FA in patients seeking care for weight loss.