Binge Eating Disorder - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Binge eating disorder is probably the most common eating disorder. Binge eating also occurs in another eating disorder called bulimia nervosa. People with binge eating disorder frequently eat large amounts of food while feeling a loss of control over their eating. This disorder is different from binge-purge syndrome (bulimia nervosa) because people with binge eating disorder usually do not purge afterward by vomiting or using laxatives. Binge eating disorder is a little more common in women than in men; three women for every two men have it. The disorder affects blacks as often as whites. About 2 percent of all adults in the United States (as many as 4 million Americans) have binge eating disorder. About 10 to 15 percent of people who are mildly obese. People with binge eating disorder often eat an unusually large amount of food and feel out of control during the binges. Binge eating involves more than just eating a lot.

Binge eating, Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are all considered eating disorders because they involve unhealthy patterns of eating. People with bulimia nervosa (sometimes called binge-purge syndrome) binge on food and then vomit or use laxatives to avoid gaining weight. They may also fast (stop eating for a while) or compulsively exercise after an eating binge. All three of these eating disorders involve unhealthy eating patterns that begin gradually and build to the point where a person feels unable to control them. All eating disorders can lead to serious health consequences, and all involve emotional distress. Bulimia nervosa (sometimes called binge-purge syndrome) is different from binge eating disorder because people with bulimia vomit or use laxatives to try to keep themselves from gaining weight after eating.

Causes of Binge Eating Disorder

1.Depression

2.Anger.

3.Sadness.

4.Boredom.

5.Anxiety.

6.Certain other emotional problems.

Symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder

1. Eating much more food during a binge episode than during a normal meal or snack

2. Frequent dieting without weight loss.

3. Hoarding food.

4. Hiding empty food containers.

5. Feeling depressed, disgusted or upset over the amount eaten.

Treatment of Binge Eating Disorder

Several methods are being used to treat binge eating disorder. Drug therapy, such as antidepressants, may be helpful for some people. Cognitive-behavioral therapy teaches patients techniques to monitor and change their eating habits as well as to change the way they respond to difficult situations. Interpersonal psychotherapy helps people examine their relationships with friends and family and to make changes in problem areas. Self-help groups also may be a source of support. Researchers are still trying to determine which method or combination of methods is the most effective in controlling binge eating disorder.

Juliet Cohen writes articles for medical diseases. She also writes articles for depression treatment and cancer treatment.

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Binge Eating Causes Symptoms Information With Treatment

Eating binges can be called compensatory behaviour. Binge eating disorder is a little more common in women than in men. People who binge may eat when they're not really hungry and continue eating even long after they're uncomfortably full. After a binge, they often try to diet or eat normal meals. people with binge-eating disorder often have numerous behavioral and emotional signs and symptoms. Include is depession or anxiety, eating until the point of discomfort or pain ,eating much more food during a binge episode than during a normal meal or snack ,eating faster during binge episodes and hiding empty food containers.

As in other eating disorders, in binge-eating disorder people are often overly focused on and unhappy with their weight, body shape and appearance. People with binge-eating disorder often feel miserable about their lives and are at higher risk of serious health complications than are those without the disorder. Certain behaviors and emotional problems are more common in people with binge eating disorder. These include abusing alcohol, acting quickly without thinking (impulsive behavior), not feeling in charge of themselves, not feeling a part of their communities, and not noticing and talking about their feelings Brain chemicals and metabolism (the way the body uses calories) affect binge eating disorder. Many people who are binge eaters say that being angry, sad, bored, worried, or stressed can cause them to binge eat.

Causes of Binge Eating

Common Causes and Risk factors of Binge Eating

Depression.

Impulsive behavior.

Psychological problems.

Biological (genes and brain chemicals).

Sociocultural factors.

Signs and Symptoms of Binge Eating

Common Sign and Symptoms of Binge Eating

Sadness.

Depession.

Anxiety.

Weight gain.

High blood pressure.

Eating until the point of discomfort or pain

Treatment for Binge Eating

Common Treatment for Binge Eating

Cognitive-behavioral therapy teaches patients techniques to monitor and change their eating habits as well as to change the way they respond to difficult situations.

Interpersonal psychotherapy helps people examine their relationships with friends and family and to make changes in problem areas.

Treatment with medications such as antidepressants may be helpful for some individuals.

Self-help groups also may be a source of support.

Family dining habits may also influence the relationships children develop with food. Try to eat some meals together as a family.

Teach children about the pitfalls of dieting, and encourage healthy eating.

Juliet Cohen writes health articles for health diseases and disorders. She also writes articles on women beauty tips.

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Eating Disorder - Causes, Manifestations , Consequences

The human body functions using a set of inter-connected activities and processes all of which combine together to create the natural rhythms of our day-to-day existence. When this innate balance is disturbed, we experience conditions that are medically described as 'disorders'. When the physiological equations are disturbed, the common manifestations of the imbalance are in the areas of sleep and food intake. The most widely accepted signs of physical wellness are normal appetite and sound sleep; conversely, when a person has an irregular appetite or sleeps badly, he is generally diagnosed as 'unwell'.

Eating disorders affect millions of people in today's world and are a by-product of the stress and strain of modern life. The condition called an eating disorder, or EDR, as it is referred to, occurs in various forms. It is commonly thought that an eating disorder is over eating, but this is not true; neither do the disorders relate to the appetite or digestive system of the individual. The underlying reasons are very often psychological, sociological or related to peer perceptions.

Some people suffer from eating disorders owing to persistent depression, loneliness, low self-esteem or anxiety. Sometimes the disorder is the result of frustration and is born out of a perceived failure to meet the so-called social standards relating to weight, figure and good looks. These standards are creations of cosmetic and 'wellness' companies who relentlessly broadcast the message that a person who does not conform to their prescribed standards for a perfect figure has no place in today's society. However, the physiological fact is that each person's constitution is different and it is neither possible nor desirable to conform to the advertised norms. These advertising strategies have the unfortunate consequence of making many people lose faith in their intrinsic worth and chase the illusory ideal of perfect looks, leading to eating disorder. In some people the condition is also brought on by family and relationship problems, emotional diffidence or trauma.

There are several irregular or abnormal eating habits that fall under the definition of disorders. The most common forms are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, compulsive over eating and binge eating disorder, as well as unspecified eating disorders. Most of these conditions are caused by reasons other than totally physical and hence can be treated with a combination of individual or group counseling, nutritional guidance and supervision, as well as medication.

Anorexia nervosa may be defined as a 'non-eating disorder'; most women and some men are so obsessed with the idea of staying thin that they drastically reduce their food intake. The constant fear of obesity governs all their food habits; their lives are more determined by what others may think, rather than by their own convictions relating to food and nutrition. Apart from unhealthy weight loss, such people suffer from irritability, fatigue, low energy levels, disruption of normal body processes, as well as low self-evaluation.

Bulimia nervosa is a condition where a person over eats, feels guilty and ashamed about it and subsequently attempts to correct the excess with purgatives, diuretics or exercise. Such people alternate between bouts of eating and purging, thus subjecting their bodies to extreme stress. Bulimia nervosa is related to social perceptions relating to body weight, appearance and other image-related factors; people suffering from the condition indulge in secretive eating, are subject to depression and weakness and constantly seek approval and acceptance from others.

Binge eating disorder is similar to bulimia nervosa, with the difference being that indiscriminate eating is not followed by purging. Such people indulge in excessive eating often without any reference to appetite, eat rapidly, suffer from guilt pangs and low self worth.

Compulsive eating is characterized by uncontrolled consumption and generally starts in childhood; often it is the body's way of coping with tension and trauma. Children living in an environment of domestic discord or violence often resort to over eating to block out the emotional stress. In some cases overeating is a case of plain personal and parental negligence and leads to obesity and a host of health issues in adult life.

There are several lesser known eating disorders that do not fall into any specific category, but are equally harmful to health; the one common factor is that all of them represent in some way the individual's troubled response to personal and social pressures. Apart from clinical and medical treatment, social and educational institutions can do much to prevent eating disorders. This can be achieved by instilling healthy food habits in children at an early age, creating awareness about nutritional eating and above all, by inculcating in them a sense of self worth and self-esteem not related to extraneous factors such as weight and appearance.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Eating Disorders

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