As usually the case, a person accustomed to the familiar surroundings and day-to-day activities never notice anything wrong in the picture until presented with a harsh reality that something is remiss.
Such was this author’s case who never saw the affliction of binge eating as an indication that something was wrong underneath the person. Or that the very act of eating more than the stomach’s fill and craving for more food was a disorder called ‘binge eating.’
Binge eating is at present the most common eating disorders. But, many binge eaters do not recognize the condition as a life-threatening affliction, as I did. It is no surprise that people do not perceive binge eating as a disorder that needs a cure. Until recently, binge eating was
Many people are unaware of the background of eating disorders. Women are more likely than men to develop an eating disorder and they usually develop in childhood before the age of 20 (Ross-Flanigan 1). Women as well as men can develop an eating disorder; it is just more likely for a woman to develop one. Eating disorders are usually developed in adolescent or childhood years when a person is influenced the most. Also “Eating disorders are psychological conditions that involve overeating, voluntary starvation, or both. Anorexia nervosa, anorexic bulimia, and binge eating are the most well-known types of eating disorders” (Ross-Flanigan 1). Many people assume that an eating disorder is when a person staves themselves; they do not realize that it can involve overeating as well. Some eating disorders also involve purging, but not all. People with an eating disorder fear gaining weight even when they are severely underweight. They do not lack an appetite (Ross-Flanigan 1). These people are
In our Western society, we have several different types of eating dysfunction, all of which are unique and tragic in their own right. Despite their individuality, however, they all have several overlapping symptoms that are key to their classification and severity. For Bulimia Nervosa (BN) and Binge Eating Disorder (BED), one of the core features is binge eating, which can be defined objectively by number of calories eaten in a given time or subjectively by the feelings of the binger. Binge eating has many different aspects that are of interest to scientists and clinicians alike. One of those interests has to do with the reduction of this symptom among populations being treated for their respective disorder. Because both
It is now defined as “Recurring episodes of eating significantly more food in a short period of time than most people would eat under similar circumstances, with episodes marked by feelings of lack of control.… The person may have feelings of guilt, embarrassment, or disgust and may binge eat alone to hide the behavior”. It is important to note that there is a difference between over-eating and binge-eating, while over-eating is a recognizable problem for many people, “binge-eating is much less common, far more severe, and associated with significant physiological and psychological problems” (DSM 5). Binge Eating Disorder is similar to Bulimia Nervosa in that we see episodes of eating large amounts of food, the difference being that there is no purging after the binging episode. It is seen highly among obese patients, but, perhaps due to a reluctance to relate obesity with an eating disorder, it was not recognized as distinct from Bulimia Nervosa until the early 1990s (Gordon, 2000).
Although anorexia nervosa and bulimia are very dangerous to the health of a person and wreak havoc on the nutritional well-being of the body, there is another serious eating disorder that is often overlooked by society but can be just as unsafe. Sadly, many people have the idea that this particular disorder can be classified as a type of bulimia, but this preconceived idea is incorrect because it is rather a characteristic of the disease than a subcategory of bulimia due to the fact that bulimics force themselves to get rid of their consumptions by exercising or expelling it from their bodies. Binge eating disorder is this very culprit, characterized by excessive and often uncontrollable overeating, which goes well beyond calorie intake recommendations,
In BED, binge episodes are associated with three or more of the following: eating much more rapidly than normal, eating until feeling uncomfortably full, eating large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry, eating alone due to embarrassment surrounding the amount of food being eaten, and feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed, or very guilty afterward (APA, 2013). People with BED experience marked distress regarding their binge eating and the binge episodes occur, on average, at least once weekly for three months. BED is also specified by severity based on number of binge
Binge eating disorder (BED) is a “severe, life-threatening and treatable eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food (often very quickly and to the point of discomfort); a feeling of a loss of control during the binge; experiencing shame, distress, or guilt afterwards; and not regularly using unhealthy compensatory measures (purging) to counter the binge eating” (NEDA 1). This disorder effects people of all genders, races, and ages. This disorder also happens to be the most common eating disorder among the people of the United States. Often times people get this disorder mixed up with another eating disorder called Bulimia. The difference is that with bulimia people purge after every meal they eat (by means of vomiting, excessive exercising or with the use of laxatives). But people with BED usually do not do unhealthy things, such as purging. Instead they feel guilty about the amount of food they ate and will not eat for an extended period of time, which can cause more binges to occur.
Binge eating is not only caused due to mental illness such as guilt, depression, embarrassment or displeasure. It might also be due to lack of food or craving for food. Few people who suffer from binge
According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, binge eating is defined as uncontrolled compulsive eating, especially as a symptom of bulimia or binge eating disorder(BED). Individuals, who suffer from a (BED), usually, consume, abnormally large amounts of food, quickly. The condition causes sufferers to eat until they are painfully full. we live in a society that accepts encourages overindulging . Therefore, there are probably several occasions on which we eat more than we should. In order for a person to be diagnosed with a (BED), they would have to experience episodes of ("Binge Eating"). that “occur, on average, at least 2 days a week for 6 months Wonderlich et al. (2003). Binge eating is an old problem, whose
Binge eating disorder (BED) is a psychiatric condition characterized by the consumption of large quantities of food in a specific amount of time, and feeling out of control while eating. BED also involves feelings of guilt and shame after binging but is not accompanied by compensatory behaviors, such as purging or vomiting. Binge eating is described by “eating at a fast pace, eating until feeling uncomfortably full, eating when not feeling hungry, eating alone to hide the amount of food consumed, and feeling depressed and ashamed afterwards” (Binge). Consequently, BED may cause weight gain. However, not all obese people have BED; only “two-thirds of individuals with BED are obese” (Binge). Consuming excessive amounts of Calories and exceeding the recommended dietary allowance can lead to obesity and its associated health risks. Possible health issues include high blood pressure and cholesterol, heart disease, type II diabetes, gallbladder disease, hypertension, and stroke (Binge).
Binge eating disorder (BED) is an eating disorder that is characterized by recurrent binge eating, without the use of compensatory behaviors such as purging, as seen in those with bulimia (Striegel-Moore & Franko, 2003). Anyone can over eat from time to time, it is excessive and out of control overeating that crosses the line towards BED. Those who binge eat are known to have a variety of health problems, both mentally and physically. The chronic, recurrent bingeing associated with BED has been shown to lead to obesity and have a high comorbidity with other psychiatric comorbidities, such as anxiety, depression, and many personality disorders. Therefore, it can affect someone just as much as anorexia or bulimia can. Given its relatively new introduction into the mental health field as its own separate entity, there is limited research on it. Current research is focusing more on the epidemiology of this disorder in order to develop more effective treatments for it.
Not only can binge eating disorder be harmful to the body, but it is also the most common eating disorder between both males and females (Albert and Kelly, 2003). While binge eating is the most common, that does not mean that the other eating disorders like bulimia nervosa or anorexia are not as prevalent. Anorexia nervosa is very common, mostly with women and teenagers and is quite dangerous if not given the appropriate treatment (Woodside, and Garfinkel, 1992).
When it comes to obesity, society is quick to judge. People make comments about how obese persons can’t get their food portions in control. Additional remarks being discussed are of the types of foods people choose and their lack of exercise. Others may believe that a person’s obesity is related to their genetics. Little is known, to society at large, about binge-eating, obesity, and the possibilities of such being influenced by mental illness.
Females with binge eating are overweight or obese, or can be at a normal weight. Unlike a females with bulimia, after a binge, you don’t vomit or use any laxatives or exercise. Females might think about eating normal meals, or diet but it leads them to more binge eating. “42% of girls in grades in 1-3 want to be thinner, 53% of 13- year-old girls are unhappy with their bodies, 78% of 17-year-old girls are unhappy with their bodies. Adolescent girls are more afraid of gaining weight than getting cancer and losing their parents.” (Why photo shopping is a Matter of life and Death for Many Girls,
According to Feldman (1989), “someone who overeats 12 times in three months can be considered to be suffering from the new classification of binge eating.”
Binge Eating Disorder is a psychological illness characterised by frequently eating excessive amounts of food, often when not hungry. In binge eating disorder there is a tendency to overeat outside the binges and the eating habits of individuals with the disorder resemble those of people with obesity albeit with binges on top of this (Barlow, 2014). The binges represent a distraction that allows a person to avoid thinking about the real root of their problems. Feelings of guilt, disgust and depression often follow a bingeing episode (www.eatingdisorders.org.au). What is central to binge eating is the sense of loss of control. This feature above all distinguishes binge eating from everyday overeating and mere indulgence (Fairburn, 1995). A person with Binge eating disorder will repeatedly engage in binge eating episodes where they eat a large amount of food in a short period of time. During these episodes they will feel a loss of control over their eating and may not be able to stop even if they want to (Cooper, 2009). This is done in the absence of significant