Eating out of control: understanding binge eating disorder.
We've all overeaten from time to time, and eating large quantities of food doesn't necessarily mean that you have binge eating disorder. Experts generally agree, however, that most people with serious binge eating problems feel that they have lost control of their eating. People with binge eating disorder share some common behaviors and feelings:
- They eat much more quickly than usual during binge episodes
- They eat when they're not hungry or until they‘re uncomfortably full
- Ashamed of the quantity of food they take in, they often eat alone
- After overeating, they feel disgusted, depressed or guilty
How common is binge eating disorder and who is at risk?
Binge eating disorder is probably the most common eating disorder. Most people with this problem are either overweight or obese, but normal-weight people can also have the disorder.
About two percent of all adults in the United States (as many as four million) have binge eating disorder. About 10 to 15 percent of people who are mildly obese have binge eating disorder. It's even more common among people who are severely obese.
Binge eating disorder is a little more common in women than in men; three women for every two men have it. The disorder affects African Americans as often as whites, and no one knows how often it affects people in other ethnic groups.
People who are obese and have binge eating disorder often became overweight at a younger age than those without the disorder. They might also lose and gain back weight more often.
What causes binge eating disorder?
No one knows for sure. 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. Some people binge eat after dieting. Dieting here 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.
Studies suggest that people with binge eating 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.
Behaviors and emotional problems that are more common among people with binge eating disorder include: abusing alcohol, acting impulsively, feeling out of control and apart from their communities and not noticing or talking about their feelings.
Researchers are looking into how brain chemicals and metabolism affect binge eating disorder. Other research suggests that genes may be involved in binge eating, since the disorder often occurs in several members of the same family. This research is still in the early stages.
What are the complications of binge eating disorder?
People with binge eating disorder are usually very upset by their binge eating and may become depressed. Research has shown that people with binge eating disorder report more health problems, stress, loss of sleep and suicidal thoughts than people without an eating disorder do. People with binge eating disorder often feel bad about themselves and may miss work, school or social activities in order to binge eat.
People with binge eating disorder may become obese, which can put people at risk for a variety of health problems, including:
- Type 2 diabetes
- High blood pressure
- High blood cholesterol levels
- Gall bladder disease
- Heart disease
- Certain types of cancer
Most people who binge eat, whether they're obese or not, feel ashamed and try to hide their problem. Often they become so good at hiding it that even close friends and family members don't know they binge eat.
Should people with binge eating disorder try to lose weight?
Many people with binge eating disorder are obese and may have health problems related to their eating disorder. Often times, people who are obese attempt to lose weight by joining a weight loss program or trying various diets; they may sometimes even be urged by a medical professional to do so. While weight loss can be a by-product of recovery from a binge eating disorder, it should not be the primary goal. In fact, attempts at controlling one's weight through dieting, can exacerbate the binge eating symptoms by triggering a deprivation-binge cycle that ultimately results in weight gain and decreased metabolism. At The Center for Eating Disorders we recognize that health problems are a result of behaviors, not a direct effect of your weight and we acknowledge that people can be healthy at every size and shape. In fact, research shows that focusing on health - without regard to weight or the number on the scale - consistently leads to better physical health outcomes1.
That being said, people with binge eating disorder, whether they are obese or not, can benefit physically and emotionally from seeking treatment for their eating disorder. Treatment for a binge eating disorder includes working towards self-acceptance and focusing on the normalization of eating patterns by incorporating a wide variety of foods from all food groups while working through unhealthy beliefs about food and eating. People in recovery often find that once they are able to maintain a balanced pattern of eating and incorporate a healthy amount of physical activity that they enjoy, their body will naturally settle at its own appropriate set point.
You don't have to conquer binge eating on your own.
If you think you might have binge eating disorder, it is important to know that you are not alone. Most people who have the disorder have tried but failed to control it on their own. The good news is that most people do well in treatment and can overcome binge eating. Contact The Center for Eating Disorders for more help.
1. Bacon, L., et al., (2005). Size Acceptance and Intuitive Eating Improve Health for Obese, Female Chronic Dieters. Journal of the American Dietetic Association Volume 105, Issue 6, June 2005, Pages 929-936.
