Childhood trauma and other traumatic events are associated with a greater risk of the development of binge eating disorder. Emotional, physical, and sexual abuse are often reported by binge eating disorder patients, especially among college-aged women in the United States. Those who experienced and witnessed violence, especially weight-related bullying and violence, are also at increased risk of the disorder. Furthermore, many patients report symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, indicating that binge-eating serves as a coping mechanism for traumatic stressors.