The Subjective Experience of Living with Binge Eating Disorder: A Systematic Review Protocol

Background: Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is the most prevalent specified eating disorder, however, understanding of how individuals experience the disorder remains limited. Qualitative research provides important insights into the lived experience of BED. Synthesising this evidence may enhance understanding of the disorder and inform clinical practice and future research. The objective of this review is to synthesise qualitative research examining how people with BED describe their experience of living with the disorder and its effects on their lives. Method: This systematic review will be conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Eligible studies will include individuals with a current or past diagnosis of BED and report qualitative analyses of primary data collected directly from participants. Studies will be excluded if findings cannot be clearly attributed to participants with BED, if qualitative data derive from secondary sources, or if studies do not report on participant experiences of living with BED. Searches will be conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and PsycINFO from 2013 onwards. Methodological quality will be appraised using the CASP Qualitative Checklist. Qualitative findings will be synthesised using thematic synthesis. Discussion: This systematic review will synthesise the qualitative evidence on the lived experience of BED and identify key themes and gaps in the literature that may inform future research and clinical understanding.