Eating
Disorders
Binge Eating
by Janet Carr, MS, RD
Director of Nutrition Services
Remuda Ranch Programs for Anorexia and Bulimia
Binge eating is not what families do at Thanksgiving or
Christmas dinner; it is not having a second dish of ice cream because it's your
favorite flavor; it's not over-indulging in fried chicken while visiting
someone down South.
Binge eating is a serious disorder that affects 3-5% of
U.S. men and women. Binge eating involves consuming a great deal of food, in an
uncontrolled and/or rapid manner, and eating beyond the point of fullness.
Binge eating is not motivated by physiological hunger. It is driven by
psychological issues, such as fear of failure or rejection, unmet expectations,
or feeling inadequate. Binges may be spontaneous or planned. No purging is
involved, but there may be sporadic fasting or repeat dieting. To have the
diagnosis of
binge-eating
disorder, the behavior must occur at least twice a week for six months. But
even with less frequency, binge eating can be a serious problem.
There are many
emotional and physical consequences to bingeing.
Immediately after a binge, feelings of shame, self-hatred, anxiety, and
depression are common. Physical discomfort and gastrointestinal distress
frequently occur due to the high volume of food ingested. The person may
experience lethargy and fatigue. Continuing in the behavior for months or years
intensifies feelings of depression, anger, sadness, and loneliness. Social
isolation occurs from the amount of time required to execute and recover from
bingeing. Extreme shame usually surrounds
binge eating disorder, meaning it must be done in private.
Perhaps the most critical consequence of binge eating is unwanted weight gain.
While some maintain a normal weight, most individuals who routinely binge eat
become overweight or obese, which often results in medical complications. These
include cardiovascular disease; high blood pressure, cholesterol and
triglycerides; and adult-onset diabetes. If the food consumed is high in fat,
individuals may also develop gout.
In dealing with this disorder, consider the following:
Evaluate your beliefs about the purpose of eating. There are two
reasons to eat: nourishment and enjoyment. Food meets the body's requirements
and provides enjoyment. Both need to be present in balance. With binge eating,
the potential exists for neither to be present. Often, the type of food
ingested is not beneficial to the body and is not enjoyed.
Acknowledge that there may be a problem. Look closely at the
behavior and ask: "Am I eating for reasons other than nourishing my body
or enjoyment?" Then, consider what needs you are trying to meet through
food.
Don't diet. Especially if overweight, individuals with binge
eating may turn to dieting. This is a mistake, since dieting involves
restriction, which leads to feelings of deprivation, which in turn leads to
bingeing. Instead, try to reconnect with your body's signals of hunger and
fullness. If a desire to eat is present, ask yourself: "Am I really
hungry?" If not, try to gain understanding about why you want to eat when
not hungry. Could it be loneliness, anger, frustration, or depression?
Seek help. A therapist or counselor can help you get to the
"whys" of your eating behavior and find new ways of dealing with the
emotions that underlie the behavior. Therapists who use cognitive-behavioral
therapy techniques are usually the most successful. If medical complications
exist, consult a physician. To learn about or return to healthy eating and to
plan appropriate and enjoyable exercise, you might want to see a dietician.
Finally, if counseling is going slowly, it may be useful to consult a
psychiatrist, since there are newer medication combinations that appear
promising in reducing binge eating.
Recent studies suggest that binge eating responds well if treated.
Therefore, there is much hope for people who are struggling with this problem.
Professionals specializing in eating disorders, including binge eating,
can be located by contacting
Remuda Ranch Programs for Anorexia and Bulimia at
1-800-445-1900.
This article is part of a continuing series of monthly columns. To be
notified of updates, please sign up for the
HealthyPlace.com Eating Disorders Community Newsletter.
Other column's include:
Concerned about whether you might have eating
disordered behaviors?
Take the Eating
Attitudes Test.
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