According to a 2013 Mayo Clinic study, bipolar disorder manifests differently in people who also binge eat than those who are just obese. The research is published online in the Journal of Affective Disorders.
The Mayo Clinic, Lindner Center of HOPE, and the University of Minnesota scientists found that just under ten percent of people with bipolar disorder binge eat, a higher percentage than the general population. Binge eaters who also suffer bipolar disorder are more likely to develop other mental health issues, including suicidal thoughts, psychosis, and substance abuse.
Contrast this to bipolar patients with obesity, who are more likely to suffer physical problems, such as diabetes and arthritis. Binge eating and obesity were both more common in women than men.
The researchers also found that when bipolar patients are suffering from a mood episode, they are more likely to binge eat. More studies are planned to pinpoint whether binge eating has a genetic link to bipolar disorder.
The Mayo Clinic team is hopeful that more personalized treatments that do not have weight gain as a side effect will become available in the future.
The Bipolar Parent 
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