Binge eating is now being defined as an eating disorder of its own category due to unique signs and symptoms that an individual shows when under this condition. People who are suffering from eating disorders may be categorized to be under anorexia or bulimia nervosa; it is possible that their actions may indeed be from a binge eating disorder.

Facts On Binge Eating

Binge eating is classified as an eating disorder where an individual eats large amounts of food in a single sitting, unlike overeating. An average person who suffers this disorder may be observed to "binge" at least twice every week within the first three months; though may continue on if left unchecked.

People who are suffering from this eating disorder may eat alone to avoid being discovered of their abnormal habits. There were also testimonies from people who were under this condition that they have uncontrolled urges to eat even when they are not hungry.

Difference With Other Eating Disorders

There is a slight difference between binge eating disorder (BED) and bulimia nervosa. People who are suffering from the latter are seen to be prone to compulsive physical exercise, while people who are under the former may not do anything strenuous at all. Also, overeating is not a characteristic of binge eating disorder in contrast to people who suffer from bulimia nervosa. It was said that people with BED may even have bouts of aversion towards food.

Causes

There is no known cause of why some people suffering from binge eating disorder. Though many classify this problem to be part of the signs commonly seen in bulimia nervosa; medical experts agree that this is separate condition from the type main types of eating disorders.

Common triggers may be sudden and extreme bouts of emotional surge — such as sadness, depression, anger, anxiety, irritation, or even boredom. Ego might also become a trigger for binge eating disorder and is commonly observed to people who pay too much attention on their physical outlook — usually thinking that the other have a better looking body may trigger the condition.

Health Risks

People who suffer from binge eating disorder may result to weakness and fatigue since the body lacks the proper nutrients to get it going in top form. Diabetes and cardiovascular problems were also reported considering that binge eaters usually take in large amounts of sugar or fat — such as sweets, meats, fast food, junk food, and the likes.

High blood pressure and stroke is also a direct result of binge eating disorder, while more severe cases are prone to cancer cells forming in their system.

Avoid Immediate Diet

It is advisable for a person who is suffering from BED to stop thinking of going into a strict diet program to counteract their rapid weight gain. Medical experts who made a study of this condition reported that there are individuals who proceed immediately with a diet program after bouts of BED may only make matter even worst. It is advisable to undergo treatment to get rid of this condition before taking the next step to remove the physical and emotional effects on their bodies.

Treatment Methods

It is best if an individual who suffer from BED to seek the help of their health care provider. Taking a personal hand in treating the condition, such as dieting, may only make it worst.

The first step to a successful treatment is to first determine the cause of the condition. The trigger needs to be found in order to take the necessary steps to counter it — though many are unsuccessful in mental treatment since they are quite ashamed of the condition and may even make up lies to cover the truth.

A treatment method called Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy is advised to people suffering from BED. This allows an individual to keep track of their daily eating habits and slowly change their abnormal eating habits starting from their mind — cultivating the necessary determination and discipline to counteract any urges when the condition kicks in.

There are also specialized weight loss programs that targets people who are suffering from BED. This includes mental, emotional, and behavioral exercise coupled by slow and systematic physical exercise regime to help an individual lose weight while keeping tabs on their condition.

Tags: what is binge eating

Binge eating is a disorder in the pattern or amount of food ingested by a person, which may result to other complications such as a disease process or other eating disorders. It is often viewed by researchers as a psychologically rooted manifestation of having a consciously, yet uncontrolled rapid consumption of food.

Main Characteristics

It is quite easy to detect if the person has developed binge eating. Besides the usual fast and exaggerated increase in the amount of food eaten, it is an episodic event wherein underlying personal stressors trigger it. This may cause a random number of episodes per day, from a single and defined occurrence, to a multiple succession.

Another manifestation of binge eating is that the consumption usually only gets disrupted when the person becomes quite uneasy and uncomfortable due to stomach ache or nausea. This continuous eating of a excessively large amount of food may not be outright observed due to a preoccupation with a sad or depressing thought. The person may be said to be fixated on the recurring thought, which hinders proper and rational thinking.

Worsening State

The manifestation of this eating disorder develops into a worse state when the person becomes fully aware of the current situation during the latent phase in between episodes. In this manner, the individual tries to cover up for what is happening as it is considered a taboo and as a shameful experience in contrast to social norms.

When this happens, the individual creates an active stand to cover up such habit by binging in secret, as well as any other reactions coming from it. Of course, the main issue has not been properly addressed and resolved, but more often than not, case studies have indicated that the individual develops self rationalization to convince the self that it is quite acceptable as a means of a personal and private activity to address their own issues and concerns.

Relationships And Connections

Commonly associated with bulimia nervosa, wherein the patient is described as having binging episodes, followed by induced vomiting, laxative intake, or over exercising, binge eating is only described until the moment when the person stops to eat due to reaching a limit. Binge eating in itself does not include the procedure of purging and therefore produces overweight individuals as opposed to the thin and undernourished people suffering from bulimia nervosa.

Compulsive Versus Binge Eating Disorder

Many may confuse compulsive eating with binge eating disorder. Even with the similar evidence of excessive intake of food, the former is more directed with the active participation of affinity with food, while the latter is descriptive of a person having to resort to eating too much to steer away from having to experience a bad though or emotion.

In this regard, it may be safe to indicate that compulsive eating is the positive outlook for wanting food, while binge eating disorder may be the negative outcome of a psychological problem over an significant underlying stressor.

Risk Factors

The main risk factor for people undergoing binge eating disorder is being overweight and obese. Nevertheless, it does not exclude those who have normal weight and physique. Complications arising from this disorder are the risks of increased heart diseases, as well as other systemic and organic diseases related to an altered physiological state.

It is highly possible that bulimia nervosa is developed in this manner, especially if the individual is able to construct a strong relationship with purging as a means of further trying to correct the current overweight state, or perhaps when guilt is established upon overly consuming food.

Treatment

Depending on which specific though or emotional stressors are causing binge eating disorder, the usual intervention given to these individuals are counseling and therapies to promote self awareness, and bring out proactive attitudes from the individual’s self. Therapy in the psychological aspect does not have a stable prognosis as there are still many areas regarding psychology which are still in gray. Nevertheless, consistent therapy has been considered to be better than just waiting for the individual to arrive at an unguided self realization.

Medications are more often used to limit the physiological manifestations resulting to depressive episodes which often trigger the disorder. Other medications are given to address the issue of being overweight and are aimed at lowering the overall weight.

Tags: binge eating, binge eating disorder, eating disorder