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Binge Eating Disorder
The essential features of binge-eating disorder
are recurrent, out-of-control episodes of consuming abnormally large
amounts of food. People with this disorder eat whether they are hungry
or not and continue eating well past being uncomfortably full. Binge-eaters
are usually extremely distressed by their eating behavior and experience
feelings of disgust and guilt both during and after bingeing. Most
feel ashamed and try to hide their problem. Many are so good at concealing
their binge-eating habits from others that even close family members
or friends are unaware they suffer from an eating disorder.
If left untreated, the consequences of binge-eating can be severe. The disorder
often leads to obesity, which is responsible for as many as 300,000 deaths year,
or other serious and often life-threatening eating disorders such as bulimia
nervosa and anorexia nervosa. Those who suffer from binge-eating disorder are
also at high risk of substance-related disorders and serious psychiatric conditions,
including depression, panic disorders, anxiety disorders, and personality disorders.
Symptoms
Nearly everyone, from time to time, eats more than they should. For the person
with binge-eating disorder, their bouts of over-eating are recurrent-at least
2 days a week for a period of at least 6 months--and feature most, if not all,
of the following symptoms:
- Frequent episodes of eating abnormally large
amounts of food.
- Significantly impaired
control over how what and how much is being eaten.
- Eating large amounts of
food even when not physically hungry.
- Eating much more rapidly
than is normal.
- Eating until uncomfortably
full.
- Eating alone because of
embarrassment at the quantity of food being consumed.
- Dissociative qualities
to the binge episodes, e.g., feeling "numb" or "spaced
out."
- Feelings of self-disgust,
depression, or guilt during and after the binge
episodes.
- There may be a higher lifetime
prevalence of depression, substance-related disorders,
or personality disorders.
Causes
The causes of binge-eating disorder are as yet unknown.
It is known that nearly 50% of all people who suffer from binge-eating
disorder have a history of depression, however, whether depression is
the cause or the result of the eating disorder is still unclear. Impulsive
behavior and other psychological problems are also very common in people
with binge-eating disorder.
People with binge-eating disorder typically have varying degrees of obesity.
Most have a history of repeated, failed efforts to diet and feel desperate about
their inability to control their food intake. Dieting's effect on binge-eating--if
any-is unclear.
Current research is focusing on the effect brain chemicals and metabolism have
on binge-eating disorder.
Treatment
The first course of action should be to seek help from a physician to diagnose
and treat any physical problems. To treat the symptoms of binge-eating, people
often benefit significantly from therapy. There are therapists who are especially
experienced at helping people who have eating disorders. Therapy provides a safe,
comforting, and confidential setting in which to receive the kind of help that
can best determine and treat any underlying emotional and psychological causes
for the eating disorder, as well as address the effect it has had on their sense
of self , their relationships with others, and their capacity to function optimally
in everyday life. |
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