Interesting Facts About Binge Eating Disorders

Binge eating or compulsive overeating is an eating disorder characterized by eating excessive amounts of food ,thousands of calories more than you need. Feelings of shame, regret, remorse and embarrassment often follow this behavior. Some binges can last hours or entire days. Find out more facts that will shed light on the binge eating disorder.

Statistics

• According to the National Institute of Mental Health, one out of five women has exhibited some binge eating symptoms; 40 percent of people who suffer from binge eating are men. Obesity and weight problems are characteristic of the majority of people with compulsive eating problems.The United States Department of Health and Human Services states that binge eaters make up 2 percent of the population in the U.S., or four million people. Binge eating is the most common eating disorder.

Genetics

• Many binge eaters have other family members who binge eat or have a history of binge eating. A study from Dr. James I. Hudson of Harvard's McLean Hospital shows that people are twice as likely to compulsively eat it they have a relative who suffers from this eating disorder. The study also showed that obesity may be a chemical imbalance rather then a metabolism problem.

Classification

• According to Howard Rankin, Ph.D., director of the Wellness Retreat at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, a person must engage in binge eating twice a week for six months in order to be classified as a binge eater.

Simularities

• Binge eating shares common traits with other eating disorders, like anorexia and bulimia. Individuals generally have a perfectionist attitude, like to feel in control, spend a lot of time thinking about food, are depressed or anxious and use food as a drug to self-medicate. Bulimics will binge, but purge by vomiting, exercising or taking laxatives. To be a binge eater, you do not try to compensate for the calories you consumed. Like the other eating disorders, sufferers are susceptible to other problems such as alcohol or drug abuse.

Recovery

• Binge eating has the highest rate of recovery. Typically, recovery involves seeing a therapist, having nutritional counseling and making changes in coping skills and eating patterns. Dealing with underlying causes for the behavior with a psychologist has proven highly effective treatment. Sometimes medication is given to treat anxiety or depression associated with the eating disorder.