Mental Health

Eating Disorders

Binge Eating Disorder

What is binge eating disorder?

Binge eating disorder is an illness that resembles bulimia nervosa and is characterized by episodes of uncontrolled eating or bingeing. It differs from bulimia because its sufferers do not purge their bodies of the excess food, via vomiting, laxative abuse, diuretic abuse, etc.

Who suffers from binge eating disorder?

Individuals with binge eating disorder often:

eat large quantities of food
do not stop eating until they are uncomfortably full
have a history of weight fluctuations
have more difficulty losing weight and keeping it off than people with other serious weight problems

Binge eating disorder is found in about 2 percent on the general population, and is more often seen in women than men. Research indicates that binge eating disorder occurs in about 30 percent of people participating in medically supervised weight control programs.

What are complications of binge eating disorder?

obesity -- overweight by 20 percent of normal weight
at risk for:
- high cholesterol
- high blood pressure
- diabetes
at higher risk for:
- gallbladder disease
- heart disease
- some types of cancer
high rates of psychiatric illnesses -- particularly depression

People with binge eating disorder (and bulimia) typically consume huge amounts of food at one time -- often junk food -- to reduce stress and relieve anxiety.

With binge eating, however, comes guilt and depression.
Purging brings relief that is only temporary.
Individuals with bulimia are usually impulsive and more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as abuse of alcohol and drugs.

This page was last updated on: February 5, 2008.

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