Binge Eating Disorder Medications.

Eating disorders have long been affecting women and men, especially in Western cultures. Only recently, though, have eating disorders, like anorexia and bulimia received mainstream attention by doctors, psychologists, and members of the community. Disordered eating is thought to affect between 15% and 20% of the population in North America alone, and children as young as six have been found to be affected by eating disorders. Recently, a new eating disorder, called binge eating disorder, has been included with anorexia and bulimia as one of the most commonly found eating disorders. Binge eating disorder is highly treatable and many sufferers go on to live healthy and happy lives.

Binge eating disorder (BED) is sometimes referred to as compulsive overeating. Binge eating and compulsive overeating are often termed an "addiction to food" because people who suffer from the disorder eat large amounts of food in very short periods of time. These overeating episodes are called "binges," and are made up of larger than normal amounts of foods, sometimes up to 20 000 calories. Binges usually occur within a two hour period, but unlike bulimia, these binges are not followed by purges.

The two main types of eating disorders are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. A third category is "eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS)," which includes several variations of eating disorders. Most of these disorders are similar to anorexia or bulimia but with slightly different characteristics. Binge-eating disorder, which has received increasing research and media attention in recent years, is one type of EDNOS.

Eating disorders frequently appear during adolescence or young adulthood, but some reports indicate that they can develop during childhood or later in adulthood. Women and girls are much more likely than males to develop an eating disorder. Men and boys account for an estimated 5 to 15 percent of patients with anorexia or bulimia and an estimated 35 percent of those with binge-eating disorder. Eating disorders are real, treatable medical illnesses with complex underlying psychological and biological causes. They frequently co-exist with other psychiatric disorders such as depression, substance abuse, or anxiety disorders. People with eating disorders also can suffer from numerous other physical health complications, such as heart conditions or kidney failure, which can lead to death.

of the North American population suffers from binge eating disorder. Binge eating disorder can affect both women and men, though twice as many women seem to have the disorder. Most binge eaters are overweight and 8% are obese (defined as being 20% above a healthy body weight). However, some binge eaters can remain around a healthy body weight for their age and height. Binge eating disorder tends to occur around late adolescence or early adulthood, though it can occur in any person of any age. Binge eating is usually triggered by a major life change or a particularly traumatic emotional event, such as divorce, a death in the family, or physical or sexual abuse.

Causes of Binge Eating The cause of binge eating disorder is still unknown, though there appear to be a variety of factors involved in the development of the disease. Genetics seems to play a role in the disorder, as binge eating tends to run in families. Psychological factors are probably one of the major causes of binge eating 50% of binge eaters suffer from depression, which is triggered by low levels of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is responsible for regulating appetite and hunger signs in the body. However, it is not known if depression in all binge eaters occurs before the disorder sets in or after. Emotions and stress are definite triggers of binge eating symptoms, and binge eating may be a coping mechanism for dealing with these feelings.

Dieting may also be a factor that contributes to binge eating disorder. The majority of binge eaters have spent years on fad diets, and often get caught up in the effects of yo-yo dieting. Poor nutrition, not enough to eat during the day, or strange eating patterns can trigger symptoms of binge eating.

People with binge eating disorder struggle with feelings of guilt, disgust, and depression. They worry about what the compulsive eating will do to their bodies and beat themselves up for their lack of self-control. They desperately want to stop binge eating, but they feel like they can't.

According to the National Institutes of Health, 2 percent of all U.S. adults suffer from compulsive overeating making binge eating disorder more common than bulimia or anorexia. Unlike other eating disorders, which primarily occur in women, binge eating disorder also affects a significant number of men. Binge eating usually begins in late adolescence or early adulthood, often after a major diet. But most people don't seek help until much later when weight gain from their binge eating is causing health problems.

Binge eating disorder is often mistakenly seen as less dangerous than anorexia or bulimia. In fact, binge eating disorder causes a number of physiological and psychological complications, and must be taken very seriously.

Binge Eating Disorder Medications are not enough to rectify this situation. Sometimes people may have to go to the extent of surgery. In these operations, it does happen that the stomach size is decreased deliberately. This would help to make the sufferer unable to consume huge quantities of food at one time. Getting right treatment within the right time would be the best way to start.

But the causes are not very clearly found out. This is because serious study on binge eating disorder began very recently. But it is true that it has no single cause like any other mental disorder. This disorder, however, arises from psychological, biological and socio-cultural factors that include family, relatives and life experiences.

If you have binge eating disorder or are beginning to show some signs of the illness, please seek help. Treatment is available to you and is highly effective more than 80% of those treated for binge eating will recover completely or make great strides in their recovery. You too can have success in overcoming binge eating.

Binge eating disorder treatment is highly debated among psychologists and health care providers. Many favor treating the underlying psychological causes of the disorder before addressing obesity issues. Others believe that obesity should be targeted first. It appears that the best approach is a combination of the two both psychological counseling and weight control should be emphasized during treatment.

The most successful treatment for binge eating disorder is psychotherapy. Binge eating disorder therapy targets the underlying causes of the disorder. Cognitive behavior therapy teaches sufferers how to keep track of their eating and begin to change destructive habits. Cognitive behavioral therapies for binge eating disorder also teaches coping skills for stress, depression, and anger. This therapy also focuses on ending negative thoughts about body size and shape, which perpetuate the illness. Interpersonal therapy focuses on the relationships that have been built by the sufferer and aims to improve them through counseling.

Medications are often recommended to treat depression in binge eaters. By treating the depression, many sufferers find it easier to combat their illness and deal with stress in more positive ways. Medication for binge eating can include antidepressants like Zoloft, Paxil, and Celexa. These drugs have also been proven to reduce binge episodes.

Eating disorders are potentially severe and life threatening, affecting primarily adolescents and young women. Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa have their onset in young adults; illness during this period can significantly affect both physical and psychological development. Since these women are fearful of having their disorders discovered, they are unlikely to seek psychiatric care. Therefore, it is important for primary care physicians, obstetricians, gynecologists, and even dentists or any clinician who works with young women to be able to identify, assess, refer, or treat young women with eating disorders. This article identifies common clinical presentations of women with eating disorders, how to assess these patients, and the best settings and methods for treatment.

If you are suffering from binge eating disorder, or any kind of disordered eating, you are not alone. Quality treatment is available to you and can help you lead a happy and joyful life. Remember binge eating recovery is difficult but rewarding. The sooner an eating disorder is treated, the better your chance for full recovery.

Eating disorders are potentially severe or life threatening and predominately affect young women. These disorders can take an irreversible toll on both the physical and mental health of young women. Onset of bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa often occurs at a critical time of development, during the early adolescent to young adult years. Both physical and psychological development can be adversely affected. The onset of binge-eating disorder occurs somewhat later, but the obesity that is typical of the disorder can also have negative physical and psychological effects on those who suffer from it.

Approximately 33% of women with anorexia and 6% of those with bulimia are treated by mental health professionals.1 Therefore, it is essential that primary care physicians, obstetrician/gynecologists, and all other healthcare providers that offer care to young women screen their patients for eating disorders. They must be able to determine if an eating disorder is present, the severity of the problem, whether the patient is medically and psychiatrically stable, what they can provide in the way of treatment, and when to refer the patient to a comprehensive care team.