Facts About Eating Disorders
Binge
Eating Disorder
Community
surveys have estimated that between 2 percent and 5 percent
of Americans experience binge-eating disorder in a 6-month
period. Symptoms of binge-eating disorder
include:
- Recurrent
episodes of binge eating, characterized
by eating an excessive amount of food within a discrete
period of time and by a sense of lack of control over eating
during the episode ( compulsive overeating )
- The
binge-eating episodes are associated with
at least 3 of the following: eating much more rapidly than
normal; eating until feeling uncomfortably full; eating
large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry;
eating alone because of being embarrassed by how much one
is eating; feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed, or
very guilty after overeating
- Marked
distress about the binge-eating behavior
- The
binge eating occurs, on average, at least
2 days a week for 6 months
- The
binge eating is not associated with the regular use of inappropriate
compensatory behaviors (e.g., purging, fasting, excessive
exercise)
People
with binge eating disorder experience frequent
episodes of out-of-control eating, with the same binge-eating
symptoms as those with bulimia. The main difference is that
individuals with binge-eating disorder do not purge their
bodies of excess calories. Therefore, many with the disorder
are overweight for their age and height. Feelings of self-disgust
and shame associated with this illness can lead to bingeing
again, creating a cycle of binge eating.
| Eating
Disorders | Anorexia
Nervosa | Bulimia
Nervosa |
| Binge-Eating
Disorder | Treatment
Strategies |
source:
nimh.nih.gov
|
