Correct me if I'm wrong here, but I think what you're implying is that BED requires a lack of control on the part of the subject.  I don't think that's the case.  Many people now define addiction this way, which actually makes no sense when you start to break it down, but that's a different discussion.  I believe one of the criteria for BED is the feeling of a lack of control.  That's a bit different.  Something like that is going to be self-reported.  There's no other way to get that information.  And given how hams are, it would not surprise me at all if this turned out to be nothing more than a common excuse they're giving when they've been repeatedly caught.  We're all very familiar with the way they lie about nearly everything surrounding their habits.