Binge Eating Disorder
What is it and how can you get help?
What is Binge Eating Disorder?
Binge Eating Disorder, also known as compulsive eating or emotional eating, consists of frequents episodes of consuming large amounts of food to the point of being uncomfortably full. An individual with Binge Eating Disorder will not purge or exercise to compensate for weight gained from binge episode (Nolen-Hoeksema, 2014).
Possible Causes
Causes of binge eating consist of biological, environmental and psychological factors.
1)Biological and Genetic Factors
- predisposition through inherited genes
2)Environmental Factors
- living situations as well as the media can cause unwanted stress about body image resulting in anger and depression.
-Being aware of surroundings and factors that may be contributing to perception of body image.
3)Psychological Factors
- These factors could involve trouble regulating moods. Including poor body image and low self-esteem.
1)Biological and Genetic Factors
- predisposition through inherited genes
2)Environmental Factors
- living situations as well as the media can cause unwanted stress about body image resulting in anger and depression.
-Being aware of surroundings and factors that may be contributing to perception of body image.
3)Psychological Factors
- These factors could involve trouble regulating moods. Including poor body image and low self-esteem.
Symptoms and Health Risks Associated With Binge Eating Disorder
#1) Feeling out of control during a binge. Eating when not hungry and also eating to the point of discomfort. Binge eaters may eat continuously throughout the day or consume large amounts of food at one time. The individual may eat very fast and be unaware of the amount of food they are consuming.
#2) Feelings of shame or guilt due to binge episodes.
Eating alone is associated with binge eating due to embarrassment of how much the individual is eating (Nolen-Hoeksema, 2014).
Feeling disgusted with oneself and depression are also symptoms (Nolen-Hoeksema, 2014).
#3) Eating to the point of discomfort and eating when not hungry.
Health Risks
1) High Blood Pressure
2)High Cholesterol
3)Heart Disease
4)Diabetes
5)Gallbladder Disease
6)Anxiety
7)Clinical Depression
#2) Feelings of shame or guilt due to binge episodes.
Eating alone is associated with binge eating due to embarrassment of how much the individual is eating (Nolen-Hoeksema, 2014).
Feeling disgusted with oneself and depression are also symptoms (Nolen-Hoeksema, 2014).
#3) Eating to the point of discomfort and eating when not hungry.
Health Risks
1) High Blood Pressure
2)High Cholesterol
3)Heart Disease
4)Diabetes
5)Gallbladder Disease
6)Anxiety
7)Clinical Depression
Myths Associated With Binge Eating
Information retrieved from www.dummies.com/how-to/content/10-myths-about-binge-eating-disorder.html
1) All binge eaters are over weight.
2) Binge eaters have no will power.
Binge eating is a cycle! If it were that easy no one would have the disorder. It is difficult to break the cycle but not impossible!
3) Weight loss surgery can cure binge eating disorder.
This is not a problem that can be fixed with surgery. It may be a temporary fix but if the factors contributing to the disorder are not addressed you will regain the weight loss from surgery.
4) Medical doctors are the go to experts for eating disorders.
Dieticians and psychologist are very helpful in getting to the root of the problem and treating it.
5) Once you have binge eating disorder it is for life.
Although binge eating can be a chronic disorder it is not a life long sentence. With proper treatment it is possible to manage symptoms.
There are many myths about eating disorders. Educating yourself will help in understanding and treatment of the disorder.
1) All binge eaters are over weight.
2) Binge eaters have no will power.
Binge eating is a cycle! If it were that easy no one would have the disorder. It is difficult to break the cycle but not impossible!
3) Weight loss surgery can cure binge eating disorder.
This is not a problem that can be fixed with surgery. It may be a temporary fix but if the factors contributing to the disorder are not addressed you will regain the weight loss from surgery.
4) Medical doctors are the go to experts for eating disorders.
Dieticians and psychologist are very helpful in getting to the root of the problem and treating it.
5) Once you have binge eating disorder it is for life.
Although binge eating can be a chronic disorder it is not a life long sentence. With proper treatment it is possible to manage symptoms.
There are many myths about eating disorders. Educating yourself will help in understanding and treatment of the disorder.
Treatment Options
Treatment for Binge Eating Disorders can include a combination of drug therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and family therapy.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on monitoring thoughts that accompany eating. The therapist will confront these thoughts to help adapt thoughts and attitude toward body image (Nolen-Hoeksema, 2014). Depression may be an underlying cause of the disorder, emotion regulation therapy will help with coping techniques. There are many other ways to cope besides eating.
Family therapy is an excellent way to get family behind the individual for support. Attending as a family will allow everyone to see their role in the disorder and how to give support. Eventually the therapist may want to see only family a couple of times without the patient. The therapist will teach them how to support without enabling. It is important to look at the whole family dynamic.
Drug therapy with an SSRI or selective serotonin re uptake inhibitor has been shown to decrease target eating and weight symptoms. The long term improvements are unknown after medication is stopped (Grohol).
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on monitoring thoughts that accompany eating. The therapist will confront these thoughts to help adapt thoughts and attitude toward body image (Nolen-Hoeksema, 2014). Depression may be an underlying cause of the disorder, emotion regulation therapy will help with coping techniques. There are many other ways to cope besides eating.
Family therapy is an excellent way to get family behind the individual for support. Attending as a family will allow everyone to see their role in the disorder and how to give support. Eventually the therapist may want to see only family a couple of times without the patient. The therapist will teach them how to support without enabling. It is important to look at the whole family dynamic.
Drug therapy with an SSRI or selective serotonin re uptake inhibitor has been shown to decrease target eating and weight symptoms. The long term improvements are unknown after medication is stopped (Grohol).
Don't Be Afraid To Ask For Help
There is plenty of stigma that comes with any kind of disorder. The only people that believe those stigmas are those that are uneducated about the disorder. If you believe that you may have Binge Eating Disorder, do not wait to ask for help.
Many resources are at your fingertips.
www.radenprograms.com/common-eating-disorders/binge-eating-treatment.html
speak with a counselor 1866-541-1932
www.nationaleatingdisorders.org
Many resources are at your fingertips.
www.radenprograms.com/common-eating-disorders/binge-eating-treatment.html
speak with a counselor 1866-541-1932
www.nationaleatingdisorders.org
References
Grohol, J. (n.d.). Treatment for binge eating disorder. Retrieved from www.psychcentral.com/lib/treatment-for-binge-eating-disorder/00096
Kramer,J. Nolan Cohn,M. (n.d.) Myths about binge eating disorder. Retrieved from www.dummies.com/how-to/content/10-myths-about-binge-eating-disorder.html
Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (2014). Abnormal psychology. (6th ed). NewYork, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.
Kramer,J. Nolan Cohn,M. (n.d.) Myths about binge eating disorder. Retrieved from www.dummies.com/how-to/content/10-myths-about-binge-eating-disorder.html
Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (2014). Abnormal psychology. (6th ed). NewYork, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.