Binge-Eating Disorder

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People suffering with binge-eating disorder experience frequent episodes of out-of-control eating. They often eat large amounts of food when not physically hungry, eat very rapidly, and hide food because they are embarrassed about how much they are eating.

The binge-eating is very similar to that seen in individuals suffering with bulimia, except those with binge-eating disorder do not purge their bodies of the excess calories consumed and are often overweight for their age and height.

People with this disorder report a feeling of impaired control during episodes of overeating. They often experience great distress over these behaviors and about their weight, yet they cannot seem to stop what they are doing. The feelings of shame and guilt associated with this illness can lead to a dangerous cycle, as the person continues to binge to escape the negative emotions caused by their out-of-control eating and weight gain.

Depression is present in the majority of cases, although it is not clear whether depression causes the binge-eating to begin or the other way around. Anxiety and substance abuse are also commonly associated with this disorder.

Criteria for Binge-Eating Disorder:

Recurrent episodes of binge eating. An episode of binge eating is characterized by both of the following:

1. Eating, in a discrete period of time (eg, within any 2-hour period), an amount of food that is definitely larger than most people would eat in a similar period of time under similar circumstances;

2. A sense of lack of control over eating during the episode (eg, a feeling that one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating).

The binge eating episodes are associated with at least three of the following:

1. Eating much more rapidly than normal

2. Eating until feeling uncomfortably full

3. Eating large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry

4. Eating alone because of being embarrassed by how much one is eating

5. Feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed, or feeling very guilty after overeating

Marked distress regarding binge eating.

The binge eating occurs, on average, at least 2 days a week for 6 months.

The binge eating is not associated with the regular use of inappropriate compensatory behaviors (eg, purging, fasting, excessive exercise) and does not occur exclusively during the course of anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa.

Treatment of Binge-Eating Disorder:

Different types of therapy are used to help treat this disorder. Family therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy teach people techniques to monitor and change their eating habits and the way they respond to stress. Dieting is not the answer, as individuals with this disorder need to learn new coping skills that do not involve food. In some cases, antidepressant medications may be prescribed to be used in conjunction with therapy.