Compulsive Eating Disorder Symptoms.

Men and Women living with Binge Eating Disorder suffer a combination of symptoms similar to those of Compulsive Overeaters and Bulimia. The sufferer periodically goes on large binges, consuming an unusually large quantity of food in a short period of time (less than 2 hours) uncontrollably, eating until they are uncomfortably full. The weight of each individual is usually characterized as above average or overweight, and sufferers tend to have a more difficult time losing weight and maintaining average healthy weights. Unlike with Bulimia, they do not purge following a Binge episode.

Eating disorders include extreme attitudes, emotions and behaviors surrounding both food and weight issues. They include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. All are serious emotional and physical problems that can have devastating effects and life-threatening consequences. Eating disorders affect both men and women. While eating disorders are less common in men, approximately 10% of those suffering from eating disorders are male (Wolf, 1991). Studies also demonstrate that cultural and media pressures on men for the "ideal body" are the rise. This increased focus on body shape, size and physical appearance will likely contribute to increased numbers of eating disorder in males. Research indicates that eating disorders in males are clinically similar to eating disorders in females (Schneider ; Argas, 1987).

Binge eating disorder is a serious condition characterized by uncontrollable eating and a resulting weight gain. People with binge eating disorder frequently eat large amounts of food (beyond the point of feeling full) while feeling a loss of control over their eating. Although the binging behavior is similar to what occurs in bulimia nervosa, people with binge eating disorder usually do not engage in purging by vomiting or using laxatives.

Many people who have binge eating disorder use food as a way to cope with uncomfortable feelings and emotions. These are people who never learned how to properly deal with stress, and find it comforting and soothing to eat. Unfortunately, they often end up feeling sad and guilty about not being able to control their eating, which increases the stress and fuels the cycle. <

Compulsive eating, anorexia eating disorder and bulimia eating disorders affect young and old alike. Bulimia symptoms are pervasive, even among those with celebrity status. The binge eating clinic and binge eating treatment programs at The Center Inc., provides skilled medical personnel to help with recovery.

People who have a binge eating disorder may consume 20,000 to 30,000 calories worth of food during a binge. Behavioral and emotional symptoms include depression, eating large amounts of food, eating even though you are full, eating rapidly, anxiety, hoarding food and hiding empty food containers.

Those with binge-eating symptoms typically are overweight or obese. Binge eaters may feel like they have no control over their eating behavior, and may eat in secret because of shame and embarrassment. Bingers may hide food. Excessive amounts of food containers and wrappers are also evidence of a binge-eating symptom.

Because the prevalence of depression in BED patients is high, psychopharmacological treatment with antidepressants may also be prescribed. Once the binge eating behavior is curbed and depressive symptoms are controlled, the physical symptoms of BED can be addressed. The overweight BED patient may be placed on a moderate exercise program and a nutritionist may be consulted to educate the patient on healthy food choices and strategies for weight loss.

An eating disorder is defined as an unhealthy eating habit. Though most eating disorders involve limiting food intake, binge eating is the complete opposite. It is the uncontrolled intake of food well past the point of hunger.

Those with binge eating disorders symptoms typically are overweight or obese. Binge eaters may feel like they have no control over their eating behavior, and may eat in secret because of shame and embarrassment. Bingers may hide food. Excessive amounts of food containers and wrappers are also evidence of bingeing.

Treatment with antidepressants may be prescribed for BED patients. Once the binge eating behavior is curbed and depressive symptoms are controlled, the physical symptoms of the disorder can be addressed.

Most people who suffer from compulsive overeating are overweight, although those with a normal weight can be affected at well. Many times people affected by compulsive eating disorder have been binge eaters since childhood and use food as a way of dealing with emotions.

Frequent binge eating can cause you to gain a large amount of weight, even though you might try to restrict your food intake between binges. People with binge eating disorder often try to follow strict diets. But dieting does not stop the binging for the long term and might actually make the problem worse.

Someone with a binge eating disorder tends to eat very rapidly until uncomfortably full, often these periods occur more than twice a week. And these symptoms are combined with a tendency to eat alone out of embarrassment, and feel depressed, guilty or disgusted after a binge.

Eating disorders symptoms for bulimia are more difficult to detect than eating disorder symptoms for anorexia. Most bulimics are not underweight and many are overweight, because of binge eating.

Binge eating disorder (BED) is characterized by loss of control over eating behaviors. The binge eater consumes unnaturally large amounts of food in a short time period, but unlike a bulimic, does not regularly engage in any inappropriate weight-reducing behaviors such as excessive exercise, induced vomiting, or taking laxatives following the binge episodes.

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.

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.

Binge eating episodes may act as a psychological release for excessive emotional stress. Other circumstances that may make a child or adolescent more likely to engage in binge eating include heredity and certain psychological affective disorders such as major depression. BED patients are also more likely to have a comorbid (co-existing) diagnosis of impulsive behaviors such as compulsive buying, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder, or personality disorders.

The first course of action should be to seek help from a physician to diagnose and treat any physical problems. To treat the symptoms of binge-eating, people often benefit significantly from therapy. There are therapists who are especially experienced at helping people who have eating disorders. Therapy provides a safe, comforting, and confidential setting in which to receive the kind of help that can best determine and treat any underlying emotional and psychological causes for the eating disorder, as well as address the effect it has had on their sense of self , their relationships with others, and their capacity to function optimally in everyday life.