Eating Disorders

Binge Eating

Binge Eating Disorder (BED)

Definition: (according to the DSM- IV)

• Recurrent episodes of binge eating.
• An episode of binge Eating is characterized by both of the following:
• Eating, in a discrete period of time an amount of food that is definitely larger than most people
would eat in a similar period of time under similar circumstances.
• A sense of lack of control over eating during the episode (e.g., a feeling that one cannot stop eating or control how much one is eating).

The binge eating episodes are associated with three or more of the following:

• eating much more rapidly than normal
• eating until feeling uncomfortably full
•eating large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry
• eating alone because of being embarrassed by how much one is eating
• feeling disgusted with oneself~ depressed, or very guilty after overeating
• Marked distress regarding binge eating is present
* The binge eating occurs on average, at least 2 days a week for 6 months.
* Binge eating is not associated with the regular use of inappropriate compensatory behaviors (e.g., purging, fasting, excessive exercise) and does not occur exclusively during the course of Anorexia Nervosa or Bulimia Nervosa.

Symptoms:

Behavioral:

• Eating large amounts of food in a short period of time 03inging)
• Eating large quantities when not hungry
• Weight Fluctuations
• Binging in private/ secret
• Frequent Dieting
• Eating while watching television, listening to music, reading, or while in the car
• Eating Rapidly
• Eating until uncomfortably full

Emotional/ Psychological:

• Feeling out of control around food
• Depression
• Low self-esteem
• Feelings of guilt and depression over eating
• Need- to be in control
• Awareness that eating habits are abnormal
• Embarrassment about eating habits
• Disgust with Self
• Attributing social/ professional successes and/ or failures to weight loss/ gain.

Medical Consequences:

• Nausea
• Hypertension
• Fatigue
• Insomnia
• Weight Gain
• High Cholesterol
• Angina
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Some forms of Cancer
• Abnormal Blood Sugar Levels
• Diabetes
• Hyperactivity
• Sleeping Irregularities

Massachusetts Eating Disorders Association, 2003