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.
Saelee R, Beccia A, et al. • MMWR supplements • 2026
During 2025, 40.5% of U.S. high school students reported binge eating at least 1 day in the past 30 days, with binge eating associated with social media use, poor mental health, and suicide risk among both female and male students.
Key Findings
Results
Approximately 40.5% of U.S. high school students reported binge eating at least 1 day in the past 30 days, with 17.2% reporting binge eating on 3 or more days.
Data came from the 2025 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), the first nationally representative survey to include a binge eating item among U.S. high school students.
Sample size with binge eating information available was N = 6,898.
Binge eating was defined as eating an unusually large amount of food while feeling a loss of control.
The 40.5% figure represents any binge eating (at least 1 day), while the 17.2% figure represents more frequent binge eating (≥3 days in the past 30 days).
Results
Prevalence of binge eating on 3 or more days was higher among female students than male students.
Female students reported binge eating on ≥3 days at a prevalence of 18.6%.
Male students reported binge eating on ≥3 days at a prevalence of 15.9%.
Pairwise t tests were used to identify demographic differences.
Associations between binge eating and examined risk factors were observed among both female and male students.
Results
Prevalence of binge eating on 3 or more days varied significantly by race and ethnicity.
Hispanic students had the highest prevalence at 20.5%.
Black or African American students had a prevalence of 18.7%.
Multiracial students had a prevalence of 19.6%.
White students had a prevalence of 14.6%.
Middle Eastern or North African students had the lowest prevalence at 9.9%.
Hispanic and Black or African American students had higher prevalence than White students; multiracial students had higher prevalence than Middle Eastern or North African students.
Results
Students who reported using social media hourly or more had a higher prevalence of binge eating on 3 or more days compared to those who did not.
Logistic regression models with predicted marginals were used to estimate adjusted prevalence ratios.
The association between social media use and binge eating was observed among both female and male students.
Social media use frequency was categorized, with hourly or more frequent use as the comparison group associated with higher binge eating prevalence.
Results
Poor mental health and persistent sadness or hopelessness were associated with higher prevalence of binge eating on 3 or more days.
Students reporting poor mental health had higher binge eating prevalence than those who did not report poor mental health.
Students reporting persistent sadness or hopelessness had higher binge eating prevalence than those who did not.
These associations were observed among both female and male students.
Adjusted prevalence ratios were estimated using logistic regression models with predicted marginals.
Results
Suicide risk was associated with higher prevalence of binge eating on 3 or more days among high school students.
Students who had seriously considered attempting suicide had a higher prevalence of binge eating on ≥3 days than those who had not.
This association was observed among both female and male students.
Adjusted prevalence ratios were estimated using logistic regression models with predicted marginals.
Suicide risk was assessed via self-report of seriously considering attempting suicide.
Background
The 2025 YRBS provided the first national prevalence estimates of binge eating among U.S. high school students.
Prior to 2025, no nationally representative data on binge eating among U.S. high school students existed from the YRBS.
The survey included N = 6,898 students with binge eating information available.
The findings are intended to guide efforts to expand binge eating surveillance among adolescents.
The authors note the findings could help identify correlates to support future intervention research.
What This Means
This research suggests that binge eating is highly prevalent among U.S. high school students, with more than 4 in 10 students reporting at least one episode of binge eating in the past month, and nearly 1 in 5 reporting it happened three or more times. These findings come from the 2025 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, the first time this nationally representative survey asked students about binge eating — defined as eating an unusually large amount of food while feeling out of control. The study found that certain groups had higher rates of frequent binge eating, including Hispanic, Black or African American, and multiracial students, as well as female students compared to male students.
The study also found that binge eating was linked to several other concerning behaviors and mental health issues. Students who used social media very frequently (hourly or more), reported poor mental health, experienced persistent sadness or hopelessness, or had seriously considered suicide all showed higher rates of frequent binge eating. Importantly, these connections were seen in both female and male students, suggesting that binge eating is not solely a concern for one gender.
This research matters because it establishes a national baseline for understanding how common binge eating is among teenagers and reveals that it tends to cluster with other mental health challenges and risky behaviors. This suggests that addressing binge eating in adolescents may need to be part of broader mental health and wellness efforts. The authors note these findings could help guide where to focus future research and public health interventions aimed at supporting adolescent health.
Saelee R, Beccia A, Celebrano B, Austin S, Ivie A, Gray S, et al.. (2026). 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.. MMWR supplements. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.su7501a5