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Binge Eating: Frequently Asked Questions

How common is binge eating?

Binge eating is very common. About one in five young women report that they have had binge-eating problems. Unlike anorexia and bulimia, binge eating is relatively common in men, who make up about 40% of binge-eating cases.

What is "Binge-Eating"?

Simple definition: recurrent, out-of-control episodes of consuming abnormally large amounts of food.
Episodes of uncontrolled excessive eating, seen in patients with bulimia, are commonly known as "binges. "
Source: medindia.net

What is Binge Eating Disorder?

Individuals with binge eating disorder (BED) engage in binge eating, but do not regularly use inappropriate or unhealthy weight control behaviours such as fasting or purging to counteract the binges. Binge Eating Disorder is more common among individuals who are overweight or obese. Previous terms used to describe these problems included compulsive overeating, emotional eating, or food addiction. Binge eating disorder is not an officially recognised disorder, but is included in the EDNOS category.
People with binge eating disorder often eat an unusually large amount of food and feel out of control during the binges. People with binge eating disorder also may: eat more quickly than usual during binge episodes eat until they are uncomfortably full eat when they are not hungry eat alone because of embarrassment feel disgusted, depressed, or guilty after overeating
Binge eating disorder is characterized by recurring episodes of binge eating. The two central features of binge eating are: Consuming more food in a distinct period of time than most people would and Feeling out of control during the time that the food is being consumed. ...

What is Binge Eating Disorder (BED)?

Binge Eating Disorder is a syndrome associated with recurrent binge episodes associated with: Eating more rapidly than normal Eating until feeling uncomfortably full Eating large amounts of food when not physically hungry Eating alone because of embarrassment of by how much one is eating Feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed, or guilty after overeating Individuals with BED are often distressed by the binge eating and do NOT engage in regular compensatory behaviors.
Source: www.bc.edu

What are the normal signs of Binge-Eating?

People with this disorder eat whether they are hungry or not and continue eating well past being uncomfortably full. If not treated, the consequences of binge-eating can be deadly. This 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. ...

What are the Complications of Binge Eating Disorder?

The major complications of binge eating disorder are the diseases that accompany obesity. These include diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, gallbladder disease, heart disease, and certain types of cancer. People with binge eating disorder are extremely distressed by their binge eating. Most have tried to control it on their own but have not succeeded for very long. Some people miss work, school, or social activities to binge eat. ...
All kinds of diseases that accompany obesity, i.e. diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, irritable bowel syndrome , gallbladder disease, heart disease, and certain types of cancer.

What Causes Binge Eating Disorder?

The causes of binge eating disorder are still unknown. Up to half of all people with binge eating disorder have a history of depression. Whether depression is a cause or effect of binge eating disorder is unclear. It may be unrelated. Many people report that anger, sadness, boredom, anxiety or other negative emotions can trigger a binge episode. Impulsive behavior and certain other psychological problems may be more common in people with binge eating disorder. Dieting's effect on binge eating disorder is also unclear. ...
No one knows for sure what causes binge eating disorder. Researchers are looking at the following factors that may affect binge eating: Depression. As many as half of all people with binge eating disorder are depressed or have been depressed in the past. Dieting. Some people binge after skipping meals, not eating enough food each day, or avoiding certain kinds of food. Coping skills. Studies suggest that people with binge eating may have trouble handling some of their emotions. ...
Depression, anger, sadness, boredom, anxiety and other negative emotions or psychological problems can trigger a binge episode. Also strict dieting may worsen binge eating in some people. Scientists also try to find out how brain chemicals and metabolism affect binge eating disorder .

What are the health consequences of binge eating disorder?

People with binge eating disorder are usually very upset by their binge eating and may become depressed. Research has shown that people with binge eating disorder report more health problems, stress, trouble sleeping, and suicidal thoughts than people without an eating disorder. People with binge eating disorder often feel badly about themselves and may miss work, school, or social activities to binge eat. People with binge eating disorder may gain weight. ...

How common is binge eating disorder?

Generally speaking, binge eating disorder is one of the most common eating disorders. Obese as well as normal people can be affected. Obese people with binge eating disorder often became overweight at a younger age than those without the disorder. Binge eating disorder affects 2% of all adults. It is about 1 million to 2 million Americans. Binge eating disorder is more common among women (about 3 women to 2 men). As regards ethnic groups, it affects blacks as often as whites.

How are obesity and binge eating disorder related?

Binge eating disorder or overeating is a psychologically conditioned eating disorder characterized by periods of uncontrollable eating. Overeating usually results in obesity (excessive accumulation of body fat). Thus, people who suffer from binge eating disorder are usually overweight.

What are treatments for people with binge eating disorder?

Researchers try to determine which method or combination of methods is the most effective in treating binge eating disorder . There are several of them. For example, cognitive-behavioral therapy teaches patients techniques to monitor and change their eating habits. Interpersonal psychotherapy helps people examine their relationships with friends and family. For some sufferers medications such as antidepressants may be helpful. Self-help groups also may be a source of support. ...

Is binge eating the same as bulimia?

Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is a type of eating disorder characterized by recurrent binge or compulsatory eating, typically without purging of food. Binge eating disorder may lead to obesity.

How is binge eating treated?

Frequent binge eating is a symptom of bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. Psychological counseling, nutritional education, medications and family therapy may all play a role in recovery from these disorders.

What are the health consequences of binge eating?

This behavior can often have the same health effects as chronic obesity.

What about food cravings, binge eating etc?

From the first session your craving for inappropriate foods will begin to diminish, and in some instances certain cravings will disappear. The techniques that you will learn in the first session can be applied at times of food cravings to reduce the urges within minutes. You also have the FREE mp3 PLAYER which is pre-loaded with a Weight-Loss Motivation Hypnosis Session, this can be played daily to reinforce your goals.

Should People With Binge Eating Disorder Try to Diet?

People who are not overweight or only mildly obese should probably avoid dieting, since strict dieting may worsen binge eating. However, many people with binge eating disorder are severely obese and have medical problems related to their weight. For these people, losing weight and keeping it off are important treatment goals. Most people with binge eating disorder, whether or not they want to lose weight, may benefit from treatment that addresses their eating behavior.
Since strict dieting may worsen binge eating, people mildly obese people better avoid dieting. Thought severely obese people probably should lose weight and keep it off.

How Common is Binge Eating Disorder, and Who is at Risk?

Although it has only recently been recognized as a distinct condition, binge eating disorder is probably the most common eating disorder. Most people with binge eating disorder are obese (more than 20 percent above a healthy body weight), but normal-weight people also can be affected. Binge eating disorder probably affects 2 percent of all adults, or about 1 million to 2 million Americans. Among mildly obese people in self-help or commercial weight loss programs, 10 to 15 percent have binge eating disorder. ...

What did I do to cause my binge eating disorder?

There are many factors, situations, events, society, life changes, and relationships with people that can lead someone to use food as a comfort measure. The person suffering from the disorder has not "done anything wrong". Please don't think that you deserve to have an eating disorder because you feel like you did something to deserve it. That is just not true. Everyone deserves a chance at a happy joyful life filled with wonderful experiences. We all have horror stories we could share about traumatic events in our lives. ...

How does Binge Eating Disorder (BED) differ from Anorexia and Bulimia?

In anorexia and bulimia, the individual uses behaviors to prevent weight gain, such as restricting food intake, vomiting, laxatives, or exercise. With BED, there is an absence of compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain after bingeing. The health consequences of BED are typically quite different than those of anorexia and bulimia. The health risks of BED are most commonly those associated with clinical obesity. ...

When we go on an eating binge, does it mean that there is a sentimental problem?

Not necessarily, but it can't be ruled out. It means, though, that our "balance of pleasure" of the day is showing a...deficit. Other factors such as anguish, stress, pressure of work and family responsibilities have subtracted "pleasure units" and we are trying to replace them with food. That is, somebody may have a satisfactory love life and ,all the same, go on an eating spree. ...

If I binge but don't purge, do I have an eating disorder?

If you binge and don't purge, your eating is disordered. There is a wide spectrum of eating disordered behavior. People who "yo-yo" diet have disordered eating.

How does the STOP Binge Eating 12 Week Intensive Program work?

The program is designed to help you reshape yourself from the inside out. Food gives you pleasure and relief. It has led you to adopt a certain eating pattern, creating certain associations with food. My work is to help you change these associations. Food is not the answer to the emotions you can't deal with; food is not the answer to your problems. Together we will work on that "personal relationship" you have with food. ...

Does your program treat bulimia and anorexia? Will you accept clients with binge eating disorders in your program?

Clients with bulimia, anorexia, or severe eating disorders are not accepted into the program. We do provide treatment for binge eating disorders.
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