Internet and Technology

Binge eating also occurs in another eating disorder called bulimia nervosa. Persons with bulimia nervosa, however, usually purge, fast, or do strenuous exercise after they binge eat. Purging means vomiting or using a lot of diuretics (water pills) or laxatives to keep from gaining weight. Fasting is not eating for at least 24 hours. Strenuous exercise, in this case, means exercising for more than an hour just to keep from gaining weight after binge eating. Purging, fasting, and overexercising are dangerous ways to try to control your weight.

Binge eating disorder is a newly recognized condition that probably affects millions of Americans. People with binge eating disorder frequently eat large amounts of food while feeling a loss of control over their eating. This disorder is different from binge-purge syndrome (bulimia nervosa) because people with binge eating disorder usually do not purge afterward by vomiting or using laxatives.

Symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder

When you have binge-eating disorder, sometimes called compulsive overeating, you regularly eat excessive amounts of food (binge). A binge is considered eating a larger amount of food than most people would eat under similar situations. For instance, you may eat 10,000 to 20,000 calories worth of food during a binge, while someone following a normal diet may eat 1,500 to 3,000 calories in a day.

Children and teens who sometimes eat a lot don’t necessarily have binge eating disorder. Kids can have huge appetites, especially during growth spurts, when they need more nutrients to fuel their growing bodies. So it can be difficult to determine whether a child has binge eating disorder. But several signs distinguish someone who binge eats from someone with a “healthy appetite.”

Binge eating symptoms are also present in bulimia nervosa. The formal diagnosis criteria are similar in that subjects must binge at least twice per week for a minimum period of three months. Unlike in bulimia, those with BED do not purge, fast or engage in strenuous exercise after binge eating. Additionally, bulimics are typically of normal weight, are underweight but have been overweight before, or slightly overweight, whereas those with binge eating disorder are typically overweight or obese.

Causes of Binge Eating Disorder

There is no single cause for eating disorders. Although concerns about weight and body shape play a role in all eating disorders, the actual cause of these disorders appear to result from many factors, including cultural and family pressures and emotional and personality disorders. Genetics and biologic factors may also play a role.

The causes of binge eating disorder are still unknown. Up to half of all people with binge eating disorder have a history of depression. Whether depression is a cause or effect of binge eating disorder is unclear. It may be unrelated. Many people report that anger, sadness, boredom, anxiety or other negative emotions can trigger a binge episode. Impulsive behavior and certain other psychological problems may be more common in people with binge eating disorder.

Biological vulnerability may play a role in developing binge-eating disorder. Both genes and brain chemicals may be involved. In addition, researchers are studying appetite regulation of the central nervous system for clues, along with gastrointestinal changes that might shed light on causes.

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 a part of their communities, and not noticing and talking about their feelings.

Almost everyone overeats on occasion, having seconds or thirds of a holiday meal or devouring an entire bag of chips while watching a scary movie. Sometimes, though, overeating becomes a regular occurrence, shrouded in shame and secrecy. It’s called binge-eating disorder, a serious eating disorder in which you frequently consume unusually large amounts of food.

Men and Women living with Binge Eating Disorder suffer a combination of symptoms similar to those of Compulsive Overeaters and Bulimia. The sufferer periodically goes on large binges, consuming an unusually large quantity of food in a short period of time (less than 2 hours) uncontrollably, eating until they are uncomfortably full. The weight of each individual is usually characterized as above average or overweight, and sufferers tend to have a more difficult time losing weight and maintaining average healthy weights. Unlike with Bulimia, they do not purge following a Binge episode.

A binge eating episode typically lasts around two hours, but some people binge on and off all day long. Binge eaters often eat even when they’re not hungry and continue eating long after they’re full. They may also gorge themselves as fast as they can while barely registering what they’re eating or tasting.

Binge eating is a pattern of disordered eating which consists of episodes of uncontrollable overeating. It is sometimes as a symptom of binge eating disorder. During such binges, a person rapidly consumes an excessive amount of food. Most people who have eating binges try to hide this behaviour from others, and often feel ashamed or depressed about their overeating. Eating binges can be followed by so-called compensatory behaviour, acts by which the person tries to compensate for the effects of overeating. Examples of such acts are purging (induced vomiting or laxative abuse), fasting, and heavy exercising.

The causes of binge eating disorder are still unknown. Up to half of all people with binge eating disorder have a history of depression. Whether depression is a cause or effect of binge eating disorder is unclear. It may be unrelated. Many people report that anger, sadness, boredom, anxiety or other negative emotions can trigger a binge episode. Impulsive behavior and certain other psychological problems may be more common in people with binge eating disorder.

We cannot diagnose or treat eating disorders by e-mail, but we can send you information and assist you in finding resources. Information provided by the Eating Disorder Referral and Information Center is not a substitute for medical treatment or psychological care. It is vital that you talk with your physician and a qualified mental health professional regarding eating disorder symptoms and treatment.

Binge eating also occurs in another eating disorder called bulimia nervosa. Persons with bulimia nervosa, however, usually purge, fast, or do strenuous exercise after they binge eat. Purging means vomiting or using a lot of diuretics (water pills) or laxatives to keep from gaining weight. Fasting is not eating for at least 24 hours. Strenuous exercise, in this case, means exercising for more than an hour just to keep from gaining weight after binge eating. Purging, fasting, and overexercising are dangerous ways to try to control your weight.

Both binge eating and bulimia involve eating excessive amounts of food, feeling out of control while eating, and feeling guilty or ashamed afterward. But bulimia nervosa (sometimes called binge-purge syndrome) is different from binge eating disorder because people with bulimia vomit or use laxatives to try to keep themselves from gaining weight after eating. They may also try to burn off the extra calories by exercising compulsively as a way of making up for overeating. People with binge eating disorder do not have these “purge” characteristics.

After you realize that you have binge eating disorder, it’s important to figure out the root of why you binge.  The root is the reason you turn to bingeing; it’s why you do what you do.  This is one of the first steps you need to figure out as you try to move into binge eating disorder recovery.  

When you know why you binge, you will be more in tune to staying away from certain circumstances or emotions that could led to a binge.  Many times the hard part is not figuring out why you binge because it seems so obvious.  We are creatures of habit, and will continue to build on previous habits.  Often times binge eating appeals to us when we have too much going on and feel overwhelmed.  When something sad happens in our life, we binge.  Even if we are alone and bored, binge eating sounds desirable.  

The problem that many people have is knowing what the next step is after discovering why they binge.  It’s great to know that stressful situations lead you to eating massive amounts of food, but sometimes those situations just aren’t avoidable.  Sadly, stress is just part of our lives.  So what do you do then?

Instead of giving up on beating binge eating disorder, try these 6 ideas to gain control:

1.  Affirmations  

Affirmations are positive statements you say about yourself and your future.  Without realizing it, people use affirmations daily, but they are not always positive.  Many times people say negative things about themselves and that gets registered in his/her mind.  Saying affirmations is such a great tool because it actually bridges the gap between the conscious mind and the subconscious mind, thus creating new proposed realities.  The most important thing to remember with affirmations is that you need to state it as if it already your reality.  For example, “I have a healthy relationship with food.”  “I am strong and in control of food.”

2.  Journal 

In the times that you most want to binge, pull out your journal and pen and start writing away!  Be sure that every feeling you are experiencing gets written down on the paper.  Don’t hold anything back.  Journaling is such a good way to pull yourself out of a potential binge.  It allows for you to get out your positive and negative feelings, without keeping them bottled up inside.  It allows you to get things off of your chest.  You can be as mad as you want on paper without it turning into something destructive like bingeing.  Most importantly, it frees you from any stress or tension you have, which is great because you won’t be as likely to binge eat.

3.  Blog  

Why not start a blog?  It will act the same way a journal does, but you might get comments back from others who know what you are going through.  Get your feelings and thoughts out on the web and see how it makes you feel.

4.  Laugh  

Go into your bathroom, shut the door, and start making faces at yourself in the mirror.  This will immediately make you laugh, either because you are truly funny or because you just feel silly.  Either way, it’s good for the soul!  

5.  Be accountable  

This may be tricky if no one knows that you have binge eating disorder.  If there is a trusted friend, family member, or counselor that you have told, why not hold yourself accountable to them?  You will do anything you can think of to avoid a binge so that you do not have to go back and let that person know that you gave in.  You’ll even come up with some great distractions for binge eating!

6.  Cherish yourself  

Binge eaters like to reward themselves with food.  You do it a few times, it feels good, and pretty soon it’s a habit for you.  You don’t even think about planning a binge as a celebration; you just do it.  Even though habits are difficult to change, it’s important that you find other things than food to reward yourself with.  Get together with friends, have a massage or pedicure, buy new makeup or clothing, or discover a new hobby.  When you cherish yourself and find a new reward, you will get an instant boost on the inside!  In addition to feeling good about yourself, you will think twice about bingeing and disrespecting yourself like that. 

Notice to publishers: You have rights to republish this article on your website as long as you keep all links in tact and clickable.  Thank you.

Binge eating is when you consume unusual large amounts of food. You also may want to stop eating but can not resist the urge and continue to keep eating. Normally a person will eat 1500 calories to 3000 calories a day. When a binge eater eats there are times when they can consume as many as 10,000 to 20,000 calories at one time. Binge eating is a disorder that has only recently been getting diagnosed as an illness in fact many experts are still trying to disclaim binge eating. However, new estimates say now that 4% of the US population has a binge eating disorder. They also say that girls and women are slightly more likely to develop the disorder than boys and men. Both children and adults can develop this disorder but it is found most commonly in people in their 40’s and 50’s.

What Causes Binge Eating Disorder? The causes of binge eating disorder are still unknown. Up to half of all people with binge eating disorder have a history of depression. Whether depression is a cause or effect of binge eating disorder is unclear. It may be unrelated. Many people report that anger, sadness, boredom, anxiety or other negative emotions can trigger a binge episode. Impulsive behavior and certain other psychological problems may be more common in people with binge eating disorder. There are major complications of a binge eating disorder. These include diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, gallbladder disease, heart disease, and certain types of cancer.

How do I know if I have binge eating disorder? 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. People with binge eating disorder also may:

1. eat much more quickly than usual during binge episodes

2. eat until they are uncomfortably full

3. eat large amounts of food even when they are not really hungry

4. eat alone because they are embarrassed about the amount of food they eat

5. feel disgusted, depressed, or guilty after overeating.

Binge eating also occurs in another eating disorder called bulimia nervosa. Persons with bulimia nervosa, however, usually purge, fast, or do strenuous exercise after they binge eat. Purging means vomiting or using a lot of diuretics (water pills) or laxatives to keep from gaining weight. Fasting is not eating for at least 24 hours. Strenuous exercise, in this case, means exercising for more than an hour just to keep from gaining weight after binge eating. Purging, fasting, and over exercising are dangerous ways to try to control your weight.

Binge eating generally isn’t an illness you can treat on your own but you can do things at your home to try and control the disorder. Here are some examples. Stick to your treatment. Don’t skip therapy sessions. If you have meal plans, do your best to stick to them and don’t let setbacks derail your overall efforts. Avoid dieting. Trying to diet can trigger more binge episodes, leading to a vicious cycle that’s hard to break. Eat breakfast. Many people with binge-eating disorder skip breakfast. But studies show that if you eat breakfast, you’re less prone to eating higher calorie meals later in the day. Don’t stock up. Keep less food in your home than you normally do. That may mean more-frequent trips to the grocery store, but it may also take away the temptation and ability to binge eat. Get the right nutrients. Just because you may be eating a lot during binges doesn’t mean you’re eating the kinds of food that supply all of your essential nutrients. Talk to your doctor about vitamin and mineral supplements. Stay connected. Don’t isolate yourself from caring family members and friends who want to see you get healthy. Understand that they have your best interests at heart. Get active. Talk to your health care providers about what kind of exercise is appropriate for you, especially if you have health problems related to being overweight.

What if I think I have binge eating disorder? 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. You may want to get professional help. Talk to your health care provider about the type of help that may be best for you. The good news is that most people do well in treatment and can overcome binge eating.

Eating binges can be called compensatory behaviour. Binge eating disorder is a little more common in women than in men. People who binge may eat when they’re not really hungry and continue eating even long after they’re uncomfortably full. After a binge, they often try to diet or eat normal meals. people with binge-eating disorder often have numerous behavioral and emotional signs and symptoms. Include is depession or anxiety, eating until the point of discomfort or pain ,eating much more food during a binge episode than during a normal meal or snack ,eating faster during binge episodes and hiding empty food containers. As in other eating disorders, in binge-eating disorder people are often overly focused on and unhappy with their weight, body shape and appearance. People with binge-eating disorder often feel miserable about their lives and are at higher risk of serious health complications than are those without the disorder. 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 a part of their communities, and not noticing and talking about their feelings Brain chemicals and metabolism (the way the body uses calories) affect binge eating disorder. Many people who are binge eaters say that being angry, sad, bored, worried, or stressed can cause them to binge eat.

Causes of Binge Eating

Common Causes and Risk factors of Binge Eating

Depression.

Impulsive behavior.

Psychological problems.

Biological (genes and brain chemicals).

Sociocultural factors.

Signs and Symptoms of Binge Eating

Common Sign and Symptoms of Binge Eating

Sadness.

Depession.

Anxiety.

Weight gain.

High blood pressure.

Eating until the point of discomfort or pain

Treatment for Binge Eating

Common Treatment for Binge Eating

Cognitive-behavioral therapy teaches patients techniques to monitor and change their eating habits as well as to change the way they respond to difficult situations.

Interpersonal psychotherapy helps people examine their relationships with friends and family and to make changes in problem areas.

Treatment with medications such as antidepressants may be helpful for some individuals.

Self-help groups also may be a source of support.

Family dining habits may also influence the relationships children develop with food. Try to eat some meals together as a family.

Teach children about the pitfalls of dieting, and encourage healthy eating.

How do I know if I have binge eating disorder? 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. People with binge eating disorder also may:1.    eat much more quickly than usual during binge episodes 2.    eat until they are uncomfortably full 3.    eat large amounts of food even when they are not really hungry 4.    eat alone because they are embarrassed about the amount of food they eat 5.    feel disgusted, depressed, or guilty after overeating. Almost everyone overeats on occasion, having seconds or thirds of a holiday meal or devouring an entire bag of chips while watching a scary movie. Sometimes, though, overeating becomes a regular occurrence, shrouded in shame and secrecy. It’s called binge-eating disorder, a serious eating disorder in which you frequently consume unusually large amounts of food. When you have binge-eating disorder, you may be deeply embarrassed about gorging and vow to stop. But you feel such a compulsion that you can’t resist the urges and continue binge eating. How Is Binge Eating Different From Other Eating Disorders?Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating are all considered eating disorders because they involve unhealthy patterns of eating.Both binge eating and bulimia involve eating excessive amounts of food, feeling out of control while eating, and feeling guilty or ashamed afterward.What causes binge eating disorder?No one knows for sure what causes binge eating disorder. 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.Specific Symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder:Most people overeat from time to time, and many people feel they frequently eat more than they should. Eating large amounts of food, however, does not mean that a person has binge eating disorder. Doctors are still debating the best ways to determine if someone has binge eating disorder. But most people with serious binge eating problems have:Several of these behaviors or feelings:1.    Eating much more rapidly than usual. 2.    Eating until uncomfortably full. 3.    Eating large amounts of food, even when not physically hungry. 4.    Eating alone out of embarrassment at the quantity of food being eaten. 5.    Feelings of disgust, depression, or guilt after overeating. Treatment for binge eating disorder includes counseling and sometimes medicine. Goals in treating binge eating often include:·    Reducing your number of eating binges.·    Developing healthy eating and exercise habits.·    Dealing with shame or guilt about your eating disorder.·    Developing a healthy view of yourself and your body.·    Getting treatment for other conditions that you also might have, such as depression, anxiety, or health problems related to being overweight.

Binge eating disorder is characterized by compulsive overeating in which people consume huge amounts of food while feeling out of control and powerless to stop.The key features of binge eating disorder are:Frequent episodes of uncontrollable binge eatingFeeling extremely distressed or upset during or after bingeingNo regular attempts to “make up” for the binges through vomiting, fasting, or over-exercising.What causes binge eating disorder?No one knows for sure what causes binge eating disorder. 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.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.Symptoms of Binge EatingFrequent episodes of eating abnormally large amounts of food. Significantly impaired control over how what and how much is being eaten. Eating large amounts of food even when not physically hungry.Eating normally around others, but gorging when you’re alone Eating continuously throughout the day, with no planned mealtimesWhat are the complications of binge eating disorder?People with binge eating disorder may become obese, which can put people at risk for a variety of health problems, including:Type 2 diabetesHigh blood pressureHigh blood cholesterol levelsGall bladder diseaseHeart diseaseCertain types of cancerTreatment of binge eating disorderWhile there are many things you can do to help yourself stop binge eating, it’s also important to seek professional support and treatment. Health professionals who offer treatment for binge eating disorder include psychiatrists, nutritionists, therapists, and eating disorder and obesity specialists.Eat breakfast. Skipping breakfast often leads to overeating later in the day, so start your day right with a healthy meal. Eating breakfast also jump starts your metabolism in the morning. Studies show that people who eat breakfast are thinner than those who don’t. Avoid temptation. You’re much more likely to overeat if you have junk food, desserts, and unhealthy snacks in the house. Remove the temptation by clearing your fridge and cupboards of your favorite binge foods.Therapy for binge eating disorderCognitive-behavioral therapy – Cognitive-behavioral therapy focuses on the dysfunctional thoughts and behaviors involved in binge eating. One of the main goals is for you to become more self-aware of how you use food to deal with emotions. Your therapist may ask you to keep a food diary or a journal of your thoughts about eating, weight, and food. Interpersonal psychotherapy – Interpersonal psychotherapy for binge eating disorder focuses on the relationship problems and interpersonal issues that contribute to compulsive eating. Your therapist will also help you improve your communication skills and develop healthier relationships with family members and friends.

Binge Eating Disorder is a disorder in which people use food to satisfy a variety of emotions in order to cope with them. People may binge when they experience any negative emotion, such as anger, sadness, or depression. Another reason a person may binge is shear boredom. People have used food as a coping mechanism for so long that now that it is a habit to turn and use food to make them feel better. People do not know how to deal with their “life” anymore without food. Binge Eating Disorder is a type of eating disorder characterized by sustained binge eating to excess followed by periods of guilt and disgust. Unlike bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder does not include periods of purging. The disease is supposedly prevalent among 1-5% of the population. This disease affects women slightly more than men (60%-40%). Additionally, people with binge eating disorder can be of normal or over weight. Other characteristics include:1. Feeling out of control with eating behavior2. Eating when not hungry3. Eating in secretBinge eaters are always overweight because of the high calories they consumed. And because of the extra fats carried in their bodies, binge eaters will normally cause heart disease, diabetes, and a number of other medical conditions. There are some cases whereby a binge eater tried to control weight by eating non-stop for an entire day and spend the next few days starving himself – or herself.Binge eating, Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are all considered eating disorders because they involve unhealthy patterns of eating. People with bulimia nervosa (sometimes called binge-purge syndrome) binge on food and then vomit or use laxatives to avoid gaining weight. They may also fast (stop eating for a while) or compulsively exercise after an eating binge. All three of these eating disorders involve unhealthy eating patterns that begin gradually and build to the point where a person feels unable to control them. As in other eating disorders, in binge-eating disorder people are often overly focused on and unhappy with their weight, body shape and appearance. People with binge-eating disorder often feel miserable about their lives and are at higher risk of serious health complications than are those without the disorder. Certain behaviors and emotional problems are more common in people with binge eating disorder. Be better prepared before you go for next binge-eating:* It helps to figure out what you could eat, the so-called forbidden foods and still maintain your weight. It is important that you do not feel you have to deprive yourself of your favourite so that you will never feel a real need to overindulge or binge to compensate for it.* Fill yourself up with low-fat or healthy foods whenever you feel like binge-eating.As depression is largely absent in the case of compulsive eating, it is considered less dangerous than binge eating, since it has a reduced chance of turning into bulimia. However, compulsive overeating can gradually turn into a binge eating disorder if you become affected emotionally and psychologically about your body shape and weight.The causes for both forms of eating disorders are similar, however, Both are emotional or psychological in nature. Just like smoking, it is not the body that craves the cigarette, but the mind.

I was a binge eater for over 20 years.
For me binge eating meant that I ate WAY PAST the comfortable place of feeling full – eating to the point of pain sometimes after eating so much food.
Binge eating was a frenzied hectic behavior for me – where food became the primary focus and everything else was ignored. A binge might last from 1 – 4 hours and during that time everything – even the food would become a blur. The only thing on my mind was eating another bite of something I considered a “forbidden” food such as chocolate, or caramel, or high calorie full fat haagen dazs ice cream, or deep dish pizza, or potato chips, or nachos with loads of cheese.
If you are wondering if you might be a binge eater answer the following questions:
Do you choose to eat when you are not hungry?
Do you overeat or binge on food when you feel stressed out?
Do you binge on food when you are bored?
Do you eat food as a form of comfort?
Do you eat way past the point of comfortable fullness?
Do you hide food wrappers so no one will see what you have eaten?
Do you eat alone so that no one can see the food you consume?
Do you feel bad or guilty after bingeing?
Do you eat when you are not hungry?
Do you feel compulsive about eating? Like you are driven to eat ALL of something – like an entire box of chocolates or a whole container of ice cream?
Do you feel like you are always thinking about food?
Do you plan for and look forward to times when you can eat all by yourself?
Do you hide food?
Do you eat like a normal person when you are with others and then binge in private?
Do you plan binges and go on special shopping trips to the grocery store with the sole purpose of getting special forbidden “binge” foods?
Are you concerned that you are out of control with food?
Do you eat to escape from your daily pressures?
Do you find that dieting never really works for you and that it causes you to binge even more?
Are you miserable about your relationship with food?
Do you feel like your food problems control your life?
Does your weight have an overall negative effect on your life?
If you answered yes to three or more of these statements there is a good chance that you either have trouble with binge eating or you are well on your way to creating a binge eating or emotional overeating problem in your life.
There is a natural way to be free of binge eating. I suffered from Binge Eating for over 20 years and I have recovered from it. It was a dark lonely place and I am so glad to be healed and healthy and happy and free from the food issues that seemed to control so much of my life. You can be free too.

Copyright (c) 2008 Stephen Lau

Binge eating is a critical component is all eating disorders, including anorexia and bulimia. Understanding binging is the key to resolving all weight-related disorders.

What is binge eating? Do we all binge occasionally? Is binging synonymous with love of food?

Binge eating is uncontrolled eating, often accompanied by shame and guilt. In other words, it is an act with full awareness as well as helplessness. Binging episodes occur quite frequently – often at least once or twice a week.

Shame and guilt often propel the resultant purging, which is getting the excessive amount of food out of the body system. Purging out of fear of weight gain is a critical component of bulimia, which is a disorder alternating between binging and purging.

Binge eating plays a pivotal role in any eating disorder, which is a psychological disorder using food to cope with disturbed emotions.

Many people have emotional problems, but they may not have an eating disorder. So how does one develop binge eating, or who are vulnerable to this disorder?

Binge eating often begins with having an unhealthy abnormal food relationship. If you ear normally, you have reduced risk of binge eating even if you do have emotional problems.

Any dieting is abnormal eating. Initially, an individual may want to control weight through dieting, but without much success. Then that individual may try one diet after another with no substantial solution to the weight problem. It is this feeling of deprivation of food (feeling the unfairness of being deprived of the joy of eating), accompanied by despair and frustration (feeling the inability to lose weight despite the efforts), which ultimately turns the individual from the diets into binge eating. As a result, cyclical eating problems develop and persist, indefinitely perpetuating the eating disorder.

Binge eating, a self-deprecating eating disorder out of subconscious fear of not being able to stop eating voluntarily, may begin in the formative years of an individual with unhealthy eating patterns, or in young adulthood as a result of incapability of handling emotional, social and environmental stress. Binge eating may also have a physiological connection with depletion of serotonin, a neurotransmitter, leading to unbalanced brain chemistry. Interestingly, many depressive patients are vulnerable to binge eating, often turning to foods to calm their nerves.

To confront someone close to you with binge eating may result in relentless control battles. It is important to understand the importance of disengaging yourself from food issues, and that striving to control someone’s eating behavior, in spite of your good intentions, may only aggravate the problem and interfere with the patient’s capacity to change.

Accepting your own limitations and removing yourself from the problem are critical to disengaging someone from binge eating. The eating-disordered individual is responsible for the consequences of eating behavior, such as over spending on food, or cleaning up the mess from vomiting. Do not make excuses for the eating-disordered individual. It is important for the individual to learn to take responsibility for the consequences of the eating behavior.

Do not proffer advice or opinions. Remember, an individual with an eating disorder is looking for approval, often a sign of anxiety or insecurity. Your reassurances or suggestions may at best provide only temporary relief. The individual must learn to develop own judgment and perception of self-worth – which are often absent in an eating-disordered individual. Just be supportive and demonstrate your love and care. Don’t play the role of a therapist!

Quite often, an eating disorder may be due to an unfilled void in one’s life. Something may be missing in one’s life, and that void needs toe be addressed in order to pave the way for recovery.

Develop a healthier relationship with the eating-disordered individual through better communication, establishing responsibilities, and respecting rights (the right to grow up, and the right to take full responsibility for one’s actions, among others).

Gradually, the eating-disordered individual will see the abnormal eating behavior patterns, and make the necessary changes or to seek professional help. Yes, this takes patience and perseverance. Don’t forget that it takes time to develop the binge eating disorder; accordingly, it may take a while to disengage oneself from that eating disorder.