| Binge eating disorder is probably the most common | | | | disorder because people with bulimia vomit or use |
| eating disorder. Binge eating also occurs in another | | | | laxatives to try to keep themselves from gaining |
| eating disorder called bulimia nervosa. People with | | | | weight after eating. |
| binge eating disorder frequently eat large amounts of | | | | Causes of Binge Eating Disorder |
| food while feeling a loss of control over their eating. | | | | 1.Depression |
| This disorder is different from binge-purge syndrome | | | | 2.Anger. |
| (bulimia nervosa) because people with binge eating | | | | 3.Sadness. |
| disorder usually do not purge afterward by vomiting | | | | 4.Boredom. |
| or using laxatives. Binge eating disorder is a little more | | | | 5.Anxiety. |
| common in women than in men; three women for | | | | 6.Certain other emotional problems. |
| every two men have it. The disorder affects blacks | | | | Symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder |
| as often as whites. About 2 percent of all adults in | | | | 1. Eating much more food during a binge episode than |
| the United States (as many as 4 million Americans) | | | | during a normal meal or snack |
| have binge eating disorder. About 10 to 15 percent of | | | | 2. Frequent dieting without weight loss. |
| people who are mildly obese. People with binge eating | | | | 3. Hoarding food. |
| disorder often eat an unusually large amount of food | | | | 4. Hiding empty food containers. |
| and feel out of control during the binges. Binge eating | | | | 5. Feeling depressed, disgusted or upset over the |
| involves more than just eating a lot. | | | | amount eaten. |
| Binge eating, Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa | | | | Treatment of Binge Eating Disorder |
| are all considered eating disorders because they | | | | Several methods are being used to treat binge eating |
| involve unhealthy patterns of eating. People with | | | | disorder. Drug therapy, such as antidepressants, may |
| bulimia nervosa (sometimes called binge-purge | | | | be helpful for some people. Cognitive-behavioral |
| syndrome) binge on food and then vomit or use | | | | therapy teaches patients techniques to monitor and |
| laxatives to avoid gaining weight. They may also fast | | | | change their eating habits as well as to change the |
| (stop eating for a while) or compulsively exercise | | | | way they respond to difficult situations. Interpersonal |
| after an eating binge. All three of these eating | | | | psychotherapy helps people examine their |
| disorders involve unhealthy eating patterns that begin | | | | relationships with friends and family and to make |
| gradually and build to the point where a person feels | | | | changes in problem areas. Self-help groups also may |
| unable to control them. All eating disorders can lead | | | | be a source of support. Researchers are still trying to |
| to serious health consequences, and all involve | | | | determine which method or combination of methods |
| emotional distress. Bulimia nervosa (sometimes called | | | | is the most effective in controlling binge eating |
| binge-purge syndrome) is different from binge eating | | | | disorder. |