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Binge eating

• Overview
• Treatment

Definition:

Binge eating is an eating disorder characterized by eating more than a person needs to satisfy hunger . It is a feature of bulimia , a disorder that also includes abnormal perception of body image, constant craving for food and binge eating, followed by self-induced vomiting or laxative use.

Alternative Names:

Eating - binge

Considerations:

Bulimia is most common among adolescents or young adults, usually female. People with bulimia typically consume large quantities of easily ingested high-calorie foods, usually in secrecy. Binge eating is usually followed by self-induced vomiting and accompanied by feelings of guilt or depression .

Complications resulting from prolonged bulimia include gastric dilatation , pancreatitis , dental decay, pharyngitis , esophagitis , pulmonary (lung) aspiration , and electrolyte abnormalities. Constipation and hemorrhoids are also common in bulimics.

Although death from bulimia is rare, the long-term outcome in severe bulimia can be worse than the outcome in anorexia nervosa , which suggests that the psychiatric disorder that causes bulimia is usually more severe.

Common Causes:

• Bulimia (while this disorder often begins during or after strict dieting, and may be caused by stress related to insufficient food intake, its cause remains unknown.)

• Review Date: 5/12/2006
• Reviewed By: Daniel Rauch, MD, FAAP, Director, Pediatric Hospitalist Program, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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