Binge Eating Disorder

Binge eating disorder is characterized by compulsive overeating. The binges are similar to those experienced by bulimics, however unlike people with bulimia, people with binge eating disorder do not engage in any compensatory behaviours to prevent weight gain.

What is this?

What is Binge Eating Disorder?

People with binge eating disorder often eat very large amounts of food (sometimes between 10,000 and 20,000 calories per binge) in a short space of time, even when they are not hungry. The binges usually take place in private, with the person eating very quickly and feeling unable to stop.

During the binge, the person feels they have no control over themselves, and after, they experience feelings of extreme fullness together with feelings of guilt and disgust.

As with all eating disorders, people with binge eating disorder use food to cope with difficult or painful emotions. They become caught up in a vicious cycle in which they use food and bingeing to comfort/soothe themselves, however this eventually leads to them experiencing feelings of guilt, disgust and self-hatred. This leaves them feeling more depressed, and so therefore more likely to turn to food again to escape those feelings. For this reason, binge eating disorder is often associated with obesity.

Tip #

Avoid critical or accusatory language

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Tip #

Avoid conversations about food and weight

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Signs & Symptoms

What are the signs of Binge Eating Disorder?

Individuals with Binge Eating Disorder experience feelings of guilt, disgust and embarrassment, and therefore most of the binging occurs in secret.

Some signs to look out for include:

Always on or off diets
Always going “to diet tomorrow”
Large weight gain
Disappearance of food
Eating normally around others but binging when alone
Inability to stop eating or control what they are eating
Hoarding/hiding food to eat when alone
Finding wrappers hidden behind chairs, under beds etc.
Weight gain when appearing to eat sensibly
Depression and moodiness
Erratic eating habits e.g. missing meals
Feeling guilty, depressed and disgusted after binging

Dangers

What are the dangers of Binge Eating Disorder?

People suffering from Binge Eating Disorder often experience the same health problems as people who are diagnosed as being clinically obese, such as:

Obesity – person continually gains weight due to the frequent and highly calorific binges
High cholesterol and heart disease
Osteoarthritis – due to the extra strain being put on the joints
High blood pressure – due to arteries becoming clogged with fatty deposits
Type II diabetes – the body becomes unable to produce insulin due to constant high-sugar binges
Gall bladder disease
Severe depression

Although there are very serious medical complications which can result from all types of eating disorders, the good news is that almost all are completely reversible upon the person becoming weight restored and nutritionally healthy.