What Is Binge Eating Disorder?

In Binge Eating Disorder, one is compelled to have large amounts of food while feeling a loss of control on over eating. This disorder is not same as binge-purge syndrome (bulimia nervosa), as people suffering from binge eating disorder usually do not cleanse afterward by vomiting or using laxatives.

Common behaviours associated with Binge Eating Disorder

1. Frequency of eating is very high
2. No conscious control over eating
3. Amount of food is high than normal even when not hungry
4. Isolated eating just to avoid awkwardness regarding the amount of food
5. Acute feeling of self-pity characterized by depression and disgust of self

Cognitive therapy as well as behavioral therapy are very useful in order to help the client to identify and alter the dysfuntionality in thought patterns, attitudes and beliefs which may play a significant role to be responsible for this disorder. Moreover, the client is advised to do exercise on a daily schedule and the client is also encouraged to learn the eating-skill.

While anorexia and bulimia were making news as the most common eating disorders in America, there was another disorder that was slowly gaining recognition as the third major eating disorder that affects women and men - binge eating disorder. Over the years, more and more people have been diagnosed to be suffering from binge eating, and now it is considered the most common eating disorder in America.

Binge eating is a manifestation of a mental condition that causes people to get over their worries and anxiety by basically switching to eating large quantities of food. Patients suffering from binge eating take to food as a means of exercising control of their lives. While this is the case even with patients suffering from anorexia and bulimia, in binge eaters the psychology works in reverse.

While anorexia patients cut down drastically on their food intake and bulimics regurgitate after a meal, patients suffering from binge eating tend to go into overdrive as far as food is concerned. They eat more than an average person does, but always in secret. As in the case of patients with other eating disorders, binge eating patients try to keep their food binges a secret. In most cases, relatives and friends would not know of the condition until the person has actually been diagnosed with it.