Binge Eating
On this page:
Most of us overeat from time to time, and many
people often feel they've eaten more than they should have. Eating a lot
of food does not always mean that a person has binge eating disorder.
Doctors generally agree that most people with serious binge eating
problems often
- feel their eating is out of control
- eat what most people would think is an unusually large amount of
food
- eat much more quickly than usual during binge episodes
- eat until so full they are uncomfortable
- eat large amounts of food, even when they are not really hungry
- eat alone because they are embarrassed about the amount of food they
eat
- feel disgusted, depressed, or guilty after overeating.
Binge eating also takes place 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.
Return to top 
Binge eating disorder is probably the most common eating disorder. Most
people with this problem are either overweight or obese,* but
normal-weight people also can have the disorder.
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 and who try to lose weight on their own or
through commercial weight-loss programs have binge eating disorder. The
disorder is even more common in 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 blacks as
often as whites. 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 (yo-yo diet) more often.
* The 1998 NIH Clinical Guidelines on the Identification,
Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults define
overweight as a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 29.9 and obesity as a BMI
of 30 or more. BMI is calculated by dividing weight (in kilograms) by
height (in meters) squared.
Return to top
No one knows for sure what causes binge eating disorder. As many as
half of all people with binge eating disorder have been depressed in the
past. Whether depression causes binge eating disorder or whether binge
eating disorder causes depression is not known.
Many people who are binge eaters say that being angry, sad, bored, or
worried can cause them to binge eat. Impulsive behavior (acting quickly
without thinking) and certain other emotional problems can be more common
in people with binge eating disorder.
It is also unclear if dieting and binge eating are related. Some
studies show that about half of all people with binge eating disorder had
binge episodes before they started to diet.
Researchers also are looking into how brain chemicals and metabolism
(the way the body uses calories) affect binge eating disorder. This
research is still in the early stages.
Return to top
People with binge eating disorder can get sick because they may not be
getting the right nutrients. They usually eat large amounts of fats and
sugars, which don't have a lot of vitamins or minerals.
People with binge eating disorder are usually very upset by their binge
eating and may become very depressed.
People who are obese and also have binge eating disorder are at risk
for
- diabetes
- high blood pressure
- high blood cholesterol levels
- gallbladder disease
- heart disease
- certain types of cancer.
Most people with binge eating disorder have tried to control it on
their own, but have not been able to control it for very long. Some people
miss work, school, or social activities to binge eat. Persons who are
obese with binge eating disorder often feel bad about themselves and may
avoid social gatherings.
Most people who binge eat, whether they are 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.
Return to top
People who are not overweight should avoid dieting because it sometimes
makes their binge eating worse. Dieting here means skipping meals, not
eating enough food each day, or avoiding certain kinds of food (such as
carbohydrates). These are unhealthy ways to try to change your body shape
and weight. Many people with binge eating disorder are obese and have
health problems because of their weight. These people should try to lose
weight and keep it off. People with binge eating disorder who are obese
may find it harder to stay in a weight-loss program. They also may lose
less weight than other people, and may regain weight more quickly. (This
can be worse when they also have problems like depression, trouble
controlling their behavior, and problems dealing with other people.) These
people may need treatment for binge eating disorder before they try to
lose weight.
Return to top
People with binge eating disorder, whether or not they want to lose weight,
should get help from a health professional such as a psychiatrist, psychologist,
or clinical social worker for their eating behavior. Even those who are not
overweight are usually upset by their binge eating, and treatment can help
them. There are several different ways to treat binge eating disorder. Cognitive-behavioral
therapy teaches people how to keep track of their eating and change their
unhealthy eating habits. It also teaches them how to change the way they act
in tough situations. Interpersonal psychotherapy helps people look at
their relationships with friends and family and make changes in problem areas. Drug
therapy, such as antidepressants, may be helpful for some people.
Researchers are still trying to find the treatment that is the most helpful
in controlling binge eating disorder. The methods mentioned here seem to be
equally helpful. For people who are overweight, a weight-loss program that
also offers treatment for eating disorders might be the best choice.
If you think you might have binge eating disorder, it's 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. The good
news is that most people do well in treatment and can overcome binge eating.
Return to top
National
Eating Disorder Association
Academy for Eating Disorders
Return to top
