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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.

Binge-eating disorder is also known as compulsive overeating.

A person with binge-eating disorder frequently eats abnormally large amounts of food (usually junk food) quickly at one sitting, even when they are not hungry. They feel a loss of control over how much they are eating and will continue to eat until they are uncomfortably full – even in pain.

This eating behaviour is likely to take place in secret due to the feelings of shame and disgust that follow a binge-eating episode.

Although binge eating is an element of the eating disorder bulimia, binge-eating disorder is different from bulimia because it does not involve the purging of calories after a binge by vomiting or the use of laxatives (or some other means).

Binge-eating disorder is likely to result in the sufferer becoming overweight or obese, although this is not always the case.

Who Suffers from Binge-Eating Disorder?

Unlike anorexia and bulimia, binge-eating disorder has only been accepted relatively recently as a serious eating disorder. It is difficult to say how many people suffer from binge-eating disorder as it is thought many cases go unreported.

It is estimated that between 2 percent and 5 percent of Americans experience binge-eating disorder in a 6-month period (NIMH).

Sufferers of binge-eating disorder are likely to be overweight or obese (although most people who are overweight or obese do not suffer from binge-eating disorder).

What Causes Binge-Eating Disorder?

Several causes of binge-eating disorder have been proposed which are likely to be interrelated.

Binge-eating disorder is widely considered to have an underlying psychological cause. Negative emotional states including depression, stress, boredom, anxiety, low self-esteem and general unhappiness are thought to trigger the use of food as a form of comfort. This may or may not be a behaviour that is learned in childhood.

Other proposed causes include:
* A genetic predisposition
* Chemical imbalances in the brain and metabolism

Binge-eating disorder can be thought of as something of a vicious circle: a person binge eats because they are unhappy, and they are unhappy because they binge eat.

Physical Characteristics of Binge-Eating Disorder

All or some of these characteristics may be present:

Behavioural Characteristics of Binge-Eating Disorder

All or some of these characteristics may be present:

Health Risks of Binge-Eating Disorder

The health risks of binge-eating disorder include:

Preventing Binge-Eating Disorder

It is feasible that binge eating is a learned behaviour in childhood, especially if parents encourage the use of food as comfort for stressful or upsetting situations. Therefore it is important not to use food as a comfort tool and instead encourage healthy eating habits by eating nutritional meals together as a family whenever possible.

Knowing the physical and behavioural signs that someone may be binge eating is important. Encouraging the person concerned to get help early on will help them to prevent the long-term negative health consequences of becoming overweight or obese.

Risk Factors for Binge-Eating Disorder

The following have been cited as risk factors:

Diagnosis, Treatment and Recovery of Binge-Eating Disorder

There are different approaches to dealing with binge-eating disorder, and different approaches work for different people. The sooner treatment is sought, the better, as being overweight has negative consequences for long-term health.

It is usually not enough to just ‘go on a diet’, as this does not address the root cause of the problem and could exacerbate the dieting / binge eating cycle.

In addition to a general practitioner examining the sufferer’s physical health, they may advise cognitive behavioural therapy, psychotherapy or self-help groups, which can be useful in addressing the triggers for binge eating. In some cases antidepressants may be prescribed.

As with all eating disorders, there is an abundance of help available and a full recovery is possible.

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.

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.

Binge eating disorder is probably the most common eating disorder. Binge eating also occurs in another eating disorder called bulimia nervosa. 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. Binge eating disorder is a little more common in women than in men; three women for every two men have it. The disorder affects blacks as often as whites. About 2 percent of all adults in the United States (as many as 4 million Americans) have binge eating disorder. About 10 to 15 percent of people who are mildly obese. People with binge eating disorder often eat an unusually large amount of food and feel out of control during the binges. Binge eating involves more than just eating a lot.

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. All eating disorders can lead to serious health consequences, and all involve emotional distress. 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.

Causes of Binge Eating Disorder

1.Depression

2.Anger.

3.Sadness.

4.Boredom.

5.Anxiety.

6.Certain other emotional problems.

Symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder

1. Eating much more food during a binge episode than during a normal meal or snack

2. Frequent dieting without weight loss.

3. Hoarding food.

4. Hiding empty food containers.

5. Feeling depressed, disgusted or upset over the amount eaten.

Treatment of Binge Eating Disorder

Several methods are being used to treat binge eating disorder. Drug therapy, such as antidepressants, may be helpful for some people. 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. Self-help groups also may be a source of support. Researchers are still trying to determine which method or combination of methods is the most effective in controlling binge eating disorder.