Binge Eating Disorder
Read the following information if you think you have this!
Binge Eating is a Disorder
If you think you have Binge Eating Disorder don't be alarmed as 2-3.5% of the population suffers from this disorder (Nolen-Hoeksema, 2014). This order affects both men and women. In order to know if you have binge eat disorder you should review some of the below information to make sure you have binge eating verses just over eating occasionally.
Symptoms:
*Eat 5,000 to 15,000 calories in one sitting
*Eating rapidly or eating when you are full and not hungry
*Feeling ashamed, disgusted or depressed about the amount you eat
*Eating alone or feeling your behavior is out of control
*Dieting without losing weight
*Feeling isolated and trouble talking about your feelings (Mayo Clinic, 2014)
The problem with binge eating disorder is that they do not know what causes the disorder, however family history, biological factors, long term dieting, and psychological issues can increase your risk.
Problems with binge eating:
*Malnutrition, depression, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, gall bladder disease and heart disease (WebMD, 2014).
Treatments:
When you see the doctor they will do a physical exam and talk to you about your eating. They may want you to do therapy either individual or group.
*Cognitive behavior therapy will help you know what triggers your binge eating and will help you learn to control it (Mayo Clinic, 2014).
* Interpersonal psychotherapy might be suggested as well. This will help you learn how to cope with your relationships so that you can control feelings which will help you to control your binge eating (Mayo Clinic, 2014).
*Dialectical therapy is the final one that may be suggested. This therapy will help you learn skills to tolerate stress and regulate your emotions so hopefully you will no longer binge eat (Mayo Clinic, 2014).
*Antidepressants may be prescribed to help control your emotions. While this does not specifically help with the binge eating it is tied to it. If you can control your emotions that make you eat it will help to stop the binge eating.
*Last is Topamax. This drug is for people with seizures but it has been shown to reduce binge eating episodes (Mayo Clinic, 2014)
Myths:
There are several things that people think when they think of eating disorders or people with eating disorders.
*Myth: Only women have eating disorders. This is not true. One in 10 people with an eating disorder is a man (SPHS, 2014).
*Myth: You can tell if someone has binge eating disorder just by looking at them. This is false. People may be thin and develop the disease and not have gained a lot of weight yet to show they have the disorder.
*Recovering from binge eating can not happen. This is false. While it will be hard to learn to control your emotions and your self that causes the binge eating, with hard work it can be done (SPHS, 2014).
References:
Mayo Clinic. (2014). Binge-Eating Disorder. Retrieved from:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/binge-eating-
disorder/basics/treatment/con-20033155
Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (2014). Abnormal Psychology. (6th Ed.) McGraw Hills: New York,
New York.
Sheppard-Pratt Health System. (2014). Eating Disorder Facts and Myths. Retrieved from:
http://eatingdisorder.org/eating-disorder-information/facts-and-myths/
Web Md. (2014). Binge Eating Disorder. Retrieved from:
http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/eating-disorders/binge-eating-disorder/binge-eating