What is binge eating disorder?

Binge eating disorder is a condition where a person eats large amounts of food in a short period of time and feels out of control or ashamed during or after the binge.

People with binge eating disorder often experience significant guilt and anxiety over this behavior, which may lead to more binge eating. A person is considered to have binge eating disorder if they binge at least once a week for 3 months.

Unlike bulimia nervosa, another eating disorder which involves a binge/purge cycle, those with binge eating disorder do not purge their food through vomiting, laxative abuse or excessive exercise. For this reason, sufferers from this eating disorder are often overweight or obese.

Some symptoms of binge eating disorder include:

eating more quickly than normal
eating past the point of satiety; feeling of uncomfortable fullness
consuming large amounts of food even when not hungry
frequently eating alone due to shame over the binging behavior
feelings of self-loathing, depression or guilt

Binge eating is a chronic condition. Although it does not have the obvious short-term health repercussions seen with anorexia or bulimia, binge eating disorder takes its toll on the body. It can lead to severe obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.

Binge eating disorder was only recently recognized as a distinct psychiatric condition. The identification of this condition will likely lead to more research and improved treatments for binge eating disorder, and it may increase the likelihood that insurers will offer coverage for these treatments.

As with other eating disorders, psychotherapy is considered the cornerstone of treatment for patients with binge eating disorder. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) reportedly has been especially effective in treating eating disorders. With CBT and other psychotherapies, the patient addresses the negative thoughts and feelings that led to the eating disorder and learns behavior modification through targeted coping strategies. These therapies may take place in an individual or group setting.

In addition to psychotherapy, patients with eating disorders also may benefit from medications. Antidepressants such as fluoxetine may help control episodes of binge eating and may relieve depression.

Sources:

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/eating-disorders/index.shtml

http://www.psychiatry.org/eating-disorders