Eating Disorders: Binging
From LoveToKnow Diet
Binging, or binge-eating disorder, is one of the three most common eating disorders, but it is often the least understood. Many people think that the binge-eater should simply exercise self-control. Others don't recognize the bingeing as a real problem. But, it is a problem that is just as dangerous and just as difficult to deal with as the restrictive eating disorders (anorexia and bulimia) -- perhaps more so, as food cannot be "cut out" of one's life the way other addictions can.
What Is Binge-Eating?
Binging is eating large amounts of food in a relatively short period of time, in quantities beyond what a normal person would eat in the same amount of time. Some binges may result in the consumption of more than 3,000 calories in a single incident. Most binge-eaters hide their binging because they are terribly ashamed of their "lack of control." Binge-eaters do not purge in the same ways as bulimics, nor do they usually engage in excessive exercise or other compensatory behaviours.
Is It Dangerous?
Binge-eating is just as damaging to physical and psychological health as the restrictive eating disorders, but its effects on the body are generally the opposite of the other eating disorders: the victim struggles with obesity, hypertension, high lipid levels, and even diabetes. The obesity linked to binge-eating can also lead to arthritis and other similar joint problems. Digestive problems are not uncommon among binge-eaters, as they may over-fill their stomach cavity repeatedly, which can contribute to gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) and other internal disorders.
What Are the Symptoms?
If you or someone you know has several of the following symptoms, it's possible that binge-eating is the culprit. Symptoms include:
- Frequently eating abnormally large amounts of food in a very short amount of time
- Eating very quickly, and almost without conscious thought
- Eating past the point of satiation to discomfort
- Feeling disgusted with his/her lack of self-control, especially after a binge
- Hiding eating behaviours and avoiding social eating situations
- Leading a sedentary lifestyle
What Causes It?
Like the other eating disorders, binging is not truly about the food. Food is simply a means of exercising control or attaining comfort. Many binge-eaters were deprived or abused as children, and turned to food as a source of comfort. Some are perfectionists who reason that if they can't diet long enough to get to their desired weight, why bother restricting themselves in any way. Other binge-eaters do not deal well with stressors like relationship problems, financial problems, or career difficulties, so they turn to food to drown out the unhappiness that these stressors bring.
How Is It Treated?
Binge-eating is treated with psychotherapy and medical nutrition interventions designed to improve body perception, inculcate healthy eating habits, encourage healthful means of dealing with stress, and teach more effective strategies for managing relationships. Family therapy can also be useful, especially when the binge-eater is a child or adolescent, or when abuse or neglect are contributors to the problem. Occasionally, antidepressants may be recommended as an adjunct to the other therapies.
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