Binge Eating Disorder Information.

An eating disorder is not simply a bad eating habit, it is a serious medical condition which requires professional care. The patient's attitude to food is driven by emotional factors, rather than appetite or body image. The three main eating disorders are anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder, although some symptoms are common to all three. Teenage girls are especially at risk. Treatment for anorectics, bulimics and binge eaters involves parents as well as health care professionals. Book mark this page for general advice about the most common eating problems facing adolescents, teens and adults.

Each year, more than 5 million Americans are affected by serious and often life-threatening eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, binge-eating, bulimia nervosa, compulsive eating, obesity, and pica. Left untreated, the emotional, psychological and physical consequences can be devastating, even fatal. Eating disorders know no class, cultural, or gender boundaries and can affect men, women, adolescents, and even children, from all walks of life.

Eating disorders are characterized by severe disturbances in eating behavior. The practice of an eating disorder can be viewed as a survival mechanism. Just as an alcoholic uses alcohol to cope, a person with an eating disorder can use eating, purging or restricting to deal with their problems. Some of the underlying issues that are associated with an eating disorder include low self-esteem, depression, feelings of loss of control, feelings of worthlessness, identity concerns, family communication problems and an inability to cope with emotions. The practice of an eating disorder may be an expression of something that the eating disordered individual has found no other way of expressing. Eating disorders are usually divided into three categories: Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Compulsive Overeating.

There are three types of eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and ED-NOS (Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified). Young women with these disorders often have an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted body image. The phrase "body image" means the thoughts and feelings people have about their physical appearance. Young women with eating disorders may start to eat less because they are afraid of gaining weight. Sometimes they binge (overeat, consuming very large quantities of food) and sometimes purge this food (by self inducing vomiting, over-exercising or using laxatives). Eating disorders affect a person's physical and emotional health. They are very dangerous illnesses and can be fatal if they are not treated.

Unlike other eating disorders -- such as bulimia nervosa or anorexia nervosa -- a substantial number of men suffer from binge eating disorder, but it is still more common in women. It is more common among the severely overweight, but can be found among people of any weight.

The essential features of binge-eating disorder are recurrent, out-of-control episodes of consuming abnormally large amounts of food. People with this disorder eat whether they are hungry or not and continue eating well past being uncomfortably full. If left untreated, the consequences of binge-eating can be severe. The 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. Those who suffer from binge-eating disorder are also at high risk of substance-related disorders and serious psychiatric conditions, including depression, panic disorders, anxiety disorders, and personality disorders.

This can be seen in the fact that obese people with binge eating disorders often became overfat at a younger age than obese people without binge eating disorder. Their history with food includes many instances of yo-yo dieting. It's important to note, though, that people who are not obese can also suffer from binge eating disorder. Likewise, many obese people are not binge eaters.

However, regularly consuming large amounts of food when you are not feeling hungry, usually to the point of feeling overly full, and at a much faster rate than usual is known as binge eating disorder. Binge eating disorder is similar to bulimia except that the person does not get rid of the food after eating. For more information about Bulimia Nervosa you may want to check out the fact sheet on the right hand side of the page.

Binge eating disorder is a prelude to bulimia, an eating disorder that also often goes unrecognized. Bulimia is the method employed to get rid of the excess food that is ingested during a binge eating episode. The methods include purging, laxative use and excessive exercise.

Both binge eating and bulimia involve eating excessive amounts of food, feeling out of control while eating, and feeling guilty or ashamed afterward. But 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. They may also try to burn off the extra calories by exercising compulsively as a way of making up for overeating. People with binge eating disorder do not have these "purge" characteristics.

The consequences of obesity can be severe. If left untreated, an obese person is at pronounced risk of developing serious mental disorders, such as depression, personality disorders, or anxiety disorders as a direct consequence of their obesity. For many, obesity leads to chronic and often life-threatening eating disorders such as bulimia nervosa or anorexia nervosa. People who are obese are also at much greater risk of developing a variety of serious medical conditions including high blood pressure, stroke, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, breast cancer, gallbladder disease, upper respiratory problems, arthritis, skin disorders, menstrual irregularities, ovarian abnormalities, and complications of pregnancy.

A lot of girls and even older women are suffering from eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia. Although these disorders seem like ordinary phases that everyone goes through, they are actually serious health conditions that can destroy victims emotionally and physically. Rebecca's House has eating disorder treatment programs for those who need them.

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. Like people who suffer from binge eating disorder, those with bulimia nervosa repeatedly eat excessive amounts of food and feel guilty or ashamed about it. Unlike bulimia, however, individuals with binge eating disorder do not purge and are, therefore, frequently overweight.

Binge-eating disorder - People with this recently recognized disorder have frequent episodes of compulsive overeating, but unlike those with bulimia, they do not purge their bodies of food (NIMH, 2002). During these food binges, they often eat alone and very quickly, regardless of whether they feel hungry or full. They often feel shame or guilt over their actions. Unlike anorexia and bulimia, binge-eating disorder occurs almost as often in men as in women (National Eating Disorders Association, 2002).

People with binge eating disorder should get help from a health professional such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, or clinical social worker. Even people who are not overweight are usually upset by their binge eating, and treatment can help them.

The eating disorder anorexia nervosa is a condition that can destroy you physically and emotionally. Those who have this condition should get professional help so they can get better and avoid other health complications. Rebecca's House has eating disorder treatment programs that can assist in the treatment of anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and other.

Identifying eating disorders can be challenging, since secrecy, shame, and denial are characteristics of the diseases. As a result, the illness can go undetected for long periods of time. In most cases, binge eating disorder is discovered when a person requests professional help with weight loss, or seeks treatment for an obesity-related health problem.

Before, anorexia is believed to be an eating disorder that only affects females. Rebecca's House can provide the right treatment program against this destructive eating disorder so those suffering from it can live normally and feel better about themselves again.

The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) is the largest not-for-profit organization in the United States working to prevent eating disorders and provide treatment referrals to those suffering from anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder, and those concerned with body image and weight issues. NEDA is dedicated to expanding public understanding of eating disorders and promoting access to quality treatment for those affected along with support for their families through education, advocacy and research. NEDA has a professional board of directors composed of physicians, social workers, and research doctorates. It provides an information and referral helpline. It has publications for grades 4-6 and 9-12 that nurture healthy eating and healthy body image. It also sponsors a national eating disorders awareness week.

The most obvious warning signs of eating disorders involve restrictive eating behaviors. A friend or family member with an eating disorder may frequently skip meals or make excuses to avoid eating he or she had a big meal earlier, isn't hungry, or has an upset stomach. The person may also claim to be disgusted by foods that used to be favorites.