Almost everyone overeats on occasion and some of us may feel “too” full, that we have eaten more than we should have. The individual suffering from the grips of Binge Eating Disorder periodically goes on large binges, consuming an unusually large quantity of food in a short period of time (less than 2 hours) uncontrollably, eating until they are uncomfortably full. Unlike with Bulimia, they do not purge following a binge episode.
Binge Eating episodes are associate with three (or more) 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 they are embarrassed about the amount of food they eat.
5. Feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed, or very guilty after overeating.
When one suffers from Binge Eating disorder, he or she may vow again and again to stop, but they feel such a compulsion that they cannot resist the urges and continue binging. Some triggers for binge eating disorders include depression, anxiety, and trouble with interpersonal relationships, boredom, prolonged dieting, and body image dissatisfaction. Many binge eaters, also know as compulsive over-eaters, speak of using this coping skills of binging as a way to numb all that is going on around them and to deal with uncomfortable feelings. The binge may temporarily relieve the stress of these unwanted feelings, but unfortunately the binge is followed by intense feelings of shame, guilt, disgust, and further depression. One may even develop psychological and physical problems relate to Binge Eating Disorder, making he or she even more miserable and further reducing their quality of life. He or she may avoid work, school, or socializing with peers because due to the shame associated with binge eating problem, actual physical discomfort following a binge, or changes in their body shape and weight.
Signs of Binge Eating Disorder include but are not limited too:
- A pattern of eating in response to emotional stress, such as family conflict, peer rejection, or not meeting the expectations of self or others.
- Shame and disgust following a binge. Wanting to hide and be alone.
- Finding food containers, wrappers that are hidden in various places.
- An increasingly irregular eating pattern, such as skipping meals, eating lots of junk food, and eating at unusual times.
Psychological and medical complications:
- Depression, anxiety, panic attacks
- Social phobia
- High blood pressure
- Type 2 diabetes
- High cholesterol
- Gall bladder disease
- Heart disease
- Joint pain
- Gastro intestinal problems
- Sleep apnea