Overview
- Binge eating disorder is a severe, life-threatening disorder in which you frequently consume a large amount of food and feel you can't control how much you're eating.
- If you binge at least once a week for three months, you may suffer from a binge eating disorder. You may be upset by your binge eating habit, feel ashamed, and try to hide your problem.
- It is the most common eating disorder in the United States and can affect people of all groups. It can be found more in people with severe obesity.
- Unlike other eating disorders, people suffering from binge eating disorders don't waste their food or exercise too much.
- If you have a binge eating disorder, binge eating therapy and treatment can help you. Your doctor may refer you to a nutritionist and therapist who will help you recover.
Binge Eating Disorder Symptoms
Many people with binge-eating disorder are obese or overweight, but you may have normal weight. Behavioral and emotional signs of binge eating disorder are:
- Eating a large quantity of food at a specific time
- Feeling the loss of control during eating
- Eating when you’re full
- Frequently eating alone
- Feeling depressed or guilty about your eating habits
- Frequently dieting without weight loss
- Eating rapidly during binge episodes
Binge Eating Disorder Causes
It's still unknown what causes binge eating disorder, but several factors play an integral role. If you're experiencing a binge eating disorder, you may face trouble coping with your emotions. You may consume food as a way to reward or comfort yourself. Skipping meals and other strict dieting may also trigger binge eating.
Binge eating disorder is often linked with depression. Researchers are finding whether brain chemicals or metabolism are causes of binge eating disorders. People with this disorder come from families that overeat.
Binge Eating Disorder Diagnosis
To diagnose binge eating disorder, your medical care provider may suggest a psychological evaluation that involves an eating habit discussion.
The diagnostic criteria of binge eating disorder include:
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Recurrent episodes of binge eating are described by the following:
- Eating a larger amount of food than normal within any 2-hour period of time
- An inability to control eating during the episodes
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The binge-eating episodes are linked with three or more following:
- Eating more rapidly than usual.
- Eating until feeling uncomfortably full.
- Eating large amounts of food when not hungry.
- Eating alone due to feeling embarrassed by how much one is eating.
- Feeling unhappy with oneself, depressed, or guilty afterwards.
- Marked distress about binge eating is present.
- Binge eating emerges, on average, at least once a week for three months.
- Binge eating isn't linked with the recurrent use of inappropriate compensatory behaviour as in bulimia nervosa and doesn't occur exclusively during the course of bulimia nervosa or anorexia nervosa.
Binge Eating Disorder Treatment
Binge eating disorder treatment helps a person control their eating binges and achieve healthy habits. A medical or mental health professional can advise on selecting a treatment plan.
Self-help Techniques
Although there's no exact way to prevent binge-eating disorder, if you suffer from binge eating, seek professional help. Your healthcare provider can advise you on where to get help.
If you think a friend or loved one has a binge-eating, guide them toward healthier behaviour and professional treatment before the situation worsens. If you have a child:
- Reinforce a healthy body image, regardless of shape or size
- Consult any concerns with your child's primary care provider, who may identify early indicators of an eating disorder and help prevent its development.
| Treatment | What it Entails |
| Psychotherapy | Psychotherapy teaches you how to reduce binging episodes and stop binge eating. Examples of psychotherapy include:
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| Medications | Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (Vyvanse) is the first FDA-approved medication to treat moderate to severe binge eating disorders. Some other medications may also help reduce symptoms, such as;
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| Behavioral Weight Loss Programs | Many people have a history of failed attempts to reduce weight. However, weight loss programs are not suggested until the binge eating disorder is fully treated. These programs are done under medical supervision to ensure your nutritional needs are fulfilled. |
Binge eating Disorder Complications
You may have physical and psychological problems related to binge eating disorder, such as:
- Poor quality life
- Personal or social life problems
- Obesity
- Medical conditions relevant to obesity, such as heart disease, joint problems, and type 2 diabetes
If you are stuck in a cycle of binge eating, be patient. Many people with binge eating disorders can overcome it with treatment - it's possible for you, too. When you move toward recovery, you may have setbacks. These difficulties aren’t permanent. You will cope with binge eating disorder gradually.
People who suffer from binge eating disorder, bulimia, and anorexia, have mental health conditions that affect how they eat and exercise. These eating disorders threaten their health. Unlike people with anorexia or bulimia, people with binge eating disorders don't throw away their food, exercise regularly, or starve themselves. People with binge eating disorders are usually overweight or obese.
People of average body weight can have binge eating disorders, but it is more common in younger and middle-aged people with severe obesity. However, older people can also be affected.
Self-help techniques may offer some marginal improvements, but binge eating disorder usually needs professional treatment. Self-help strategies can be more effective if you count on an experienced team.
If you find someone suffering from a binge eating disorder, you can help them by being patient with their symptoms and needs. You can listen to their frustrations about binge eating in a caring yet firm manner. You can also ensure they control their symptoms with proper help.
People with bulimia nervosa routinely try to prevent weight gain after binge eating by vomiting, using laxatives or diuretics, fasting, or exercising excessively. These methods may also be used occasionally by people with this disorder to avoid weight gain, but they are not a regular part of their binge-eating behaviors.
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