Most of us overeat from time to time, and some of us often feel we have eaten more than we should have. Eating a lot of food does not necessarily mean that you have binge eating disorder.
Experts generally agree that most people with serious binge eating problems often eat an unusually large amount of food and feel their eating is out of control.
What causes binge eating disorder?
No one knows for sure what causes binge eating disorder. Some research suggests that genes may be involved in binge eating, since the disorder often occurs in several members of the same family.
As many as half of all people with binge eating disorder are depressed or have been depressed in the past. Whether depression causes binge eating disorder, or whether binge eating disorder causes depression, is not known.
It is also unclear if dieting and binge eating are related, although some people binge eat after dieting.
In these cases, dieting means skipping meals, not eating enough food each day, or avoiding certain kinds of food. These are unhealthy ways to try to change your body shape and weight. Sometimes, binge eating also occurs in another eating disorder called bulimia nervosa.
Who is at risk?
Age: It is seen more often in adults age 46 to 55.
Gender: Binge eating disorder is a little more common in women than in men; three women for every two men have it.
Obesity / overweight: Although most obese people do not have binge eating disorder, people with this problem are usually overweight or obese. However, normal weight people can also have the disorder.
How would you know if you have binge eating disorder?
If you have binge eating disorder, you may:
- Eat much more quickly than usual during binge episodes
- Eat until they are uncomfortably full
- Eat large amounts of food even when they are not really hungry
- Eat alone because they are embarrassed about the amount of food they eat
- Feel disgusted, depressed, or guilty after overeating
Studies suggest that people with binge eating disorder may have trouble handling some of their emotions.
Many people who are binge eaters say that being angry, sad, bored, worried, or stressed can cause them to binge eat.
Certain behaviors and emotional problems are more common in people with binge eating disorder.
These include abusing alcohol, acting quickly without thinking (impulsive behavior), not feeling in charge of themselves, not feeling apart of their communities, and not noticing and talking about their feelings.
What binge eating disorder could lead to?
People with binge eating disorder report more health problems, stress, trouble sleeping, and suicidal thoughts than do people without an eating disorder.
Other complications from binge eating disorder could include joint pain, digestive problems, headache, muscle pain, and menstrual problems.
People with binge eating disorder often feel bad about themselves and may miss work, school, or social activities to binge eat.
Also, people with binge eating disorder may gain weight. Weight gain can lead to obesity, and obesity puts people at risk for many health problems, including:
- Type2diabetes
- High blood pressure
- High blood cholesterol levels
- Gall bladder disease
- Heart disease
- Certain types of cancer
You have binge eating disorder, should you lose weight?
Many people with binge eating disorder are obese and have health problems because of their weight.
They should try to lose weight and keep it off; however, research shows that long term weight loss is more likely when a person has long-term control over his or her binge eating.
Therefore, people with binge eating disorder who are obese may benefit from a weight-loss program that also offers treatment for eating disorders.
However, people who are not over weight should avoid trying to lose weight because it may make their binge eating worse.
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