An Introduction To Binge Eating Disorder

Occurrence and risk factors

Most people with this problem are either overweight or obese (discussed below), but people of normal weight can also have the disorder.

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 and who try to lose weight on their own or through commercial weight-loss programs have binge eating disorder. The disorder is even more common in people who are severely obese.

Binge eating disorder is a little more common in women than in men; three women for every two men have it. The disorder is found in all ethno-cultural and racial populations.

People who are obese and have binge eating disorder often became overweight at a younger age than those without the disorder. They might also lose and gain back weight more often.

No one knows for sure what causes binge eating disorder. More than half of all people with binge eating disorder have a history of major depression.  In 2002, the American Psychiatric Association was considering BED as it's own distinct psychiatric disorder. Whether depression causes binge eating disorder or whether binge eating disorder causes depression is not known for sure.

Emotional cues such as; anger, sadness, boredom, anxiety, and as noted above, depression can trigger binge eating. Impulsive behavior (for example, compulsive shopping), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder or personality disorder can be more common in people with binge eating disorder. However, many people also claim that bingeing occurs regardless of their mood.  Stress may also play an important role in understanding BED.  Due to excessive stress, binge eating may act as a psychological and physiological release.

Individuals with BED are reported to come from families that put an undue emphasis on the importance of food and using food as a comfort to alleviate stress.  Focus on cleaning one's plate and cultural attitudes towards thinness also play a role in those with BED.

Unclear as if dieting and binge eating are related, some studies have shown that about half of all people with BED had binge episodes before they started to diet.

Although the research is in the early stages, researchers are studying how brain chemicals and metabolism might affect binge eating disorder.

People with binge eating disorder can become malnourished due to a lack of proper nutrition. Binging episodes usually include foods that are high in sugar and/or salt, but low in healthier nutrients.

People with binge eating disorder often report feelings of guilt and depression after binge eating.

People who are obese and also have binge eating disorder are at risk for type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol levels, gallbladder disease, heart disease and certain types of cancer.

Most people with binge eating disorder have tried to control it on their own, but have not been able to control it for very long. Some people miss work, school or social activities to binge eat.

Individuals, who are obese with binge eating disorder, often feel bad about themselves, and often avoid social gatherings.

Most people who binge eat, whether they are obese or not, feel ashamed and try to hide their problem. Often they become so good at hiding it that even close friends and family members do not even know they binge eat.

People who are not overweight should avoid dieting because it can often worsen their binge eating behaviors. Dieting defined here is skipping meals, restricting daily food intake or avoiding certain food groups (i.e., carbohydrates or fats). Many people with binge eating disorder are obese and have health problems because of their weight. People with binge eating disorder who are obese may find it harder to stay on a weight-loss program. They also may lose less weight than other people, and may regain weight more quickly due to a slowing of the metabolism.  Dieting can negatively impact individual with such psychological problems as depression, out of control behavior, and relationship problems.  These people most likely will need psychological treatment as they address their weight issues. 

People with binge eating disorder have often had long periods of dieting.  Whether or not they want to lose weight, should get help from a health professional specialist such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, or clinical social worker for their underlying psychological issues and normalize eating patterns. Even those who are not overweight are usually upset by their binge eating, and treatment can help them. Treatments recommended are cognitive-behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy and medication management. Cognitive-behavioral therapy educates individuals how to keep track of and change their unhealthy eating habits. The individual needs to eat regular meals and snacks to normalize their eating patterns.  It also teaches them individuals how to change their thoughts so they can effectively deal with their emotions. Interpersonal psychotherapy also can help these individual to build effective relationships and make necessary changes in problem areas. Drug therapy, such as antidepressants, may also be helpful to decrease depression or anxiety to help give the individuals more of a chance to utilize their newfound coping skills.

Researchers are still trying to find the treatment that is the most helpful in controlling binge eating disorder. The methods mentioned here seem to be equally helpful. For individuals who are overweight, a weight-loss program utilizing exchanges that also offers treatment for eating disorders might be the best choice.

If you think you might have binge eating disorder, it's important to know that you are not alone. Most people who have the disorder have tried but failed to control it on their own. You may want to get professional help. Talk to your health care provider about the type of help that may be best. The good news is that most people do well in treatment and can overcome binge eating disorder.

References