Our relationship with food can be very complex and it may vary drastically from one person to another. Although food is our main energy source and a well-balanced diet allows us to lead a healthy lifestyle, the mere idea of eating can have different connotations and the association it has with negative feelings or behaviors is way more common than we may think.
In fact, statistics[1] show that “70 million people internationally live with eating disorders” and that number continues to increase.
This makes eating disorders a serious issue that need medical and psychological intervention in order to be treated.
Coming to terms with having an eating disorder can be a very difficult process for those who are suffering from it because its causes go beyond superficial assumptions. Our team at LIMARP®, led by Dr. Liza María Pompa González, is equipped with mental health professionals in order to help our patients reach their health goals and guide them throughout their journey. There are several types of eating disorders and all of them are complex, meaning that their root cause may vary from patient to patient; in order to identify and treat them, we recommend you speak with licensed professionals to avoid self-diagnosis.
The following article will mainly focus on binge eating disorder (BED), its causes, symptoms, and consequences, as well as what exactly is an eating disorder and some treatment suggestions.
As always, we’d like to remind you that every case or situation is different, and if you’re struggling with BED or any other type of disorder, we encourage you to seek professional help or to talk to your doctor.
First, it’s important to know how to identify an eating disorder. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness[2], eating disorders are illnesses that affect or impact a person’s relationship with food and body image, which makes them have excessive thoughts of food, body weight or shape, and how to control their food intake. Some of the causes for eating disorders include the effects of another mental illness, genetics, unhealthy exposure to media, negative body image, and trauma; it’s safe to say that society’s standard for beauty has also played a huge role in the development of eating disorders, since thinness is often encouraged and sought, regardless on how unhealthy the methods to achieve this may be.
There are several types of eating disorders, like anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder, among others. The symptoms for each eating disorder vary according to the type a person may present, but what they do have in common is the dangers that they pose to their overall health. If an eating disorder goes untreated, it can result in death; in fact, studies have concluded that these disorders are some of the most dangerous mental illnesses[3].
One of the most common disorders is binge eating or BED, and while it’s more prevalent among adolescents[4] or young adults, people can still develop it late into adulthood. Binge eating disorder consists of eating unusually large amounts of food in short periods of time without control, meaning that people dealing with this disorder tend to eat when they’re not hungry or when they have grown uncomfortably full.
Unlike other eating disorders, like anorexia or bulimia, people with binge eating disorder don’t restrict calories, resort to purging, or overexercise to compensate for the excess consumption of food. Because of this, many of them may be overweight or obese and they become more at risk of heart diseases, type 2 diabetes, or having a stroke.
Some symptoms[5] of binge eating disorder include:
- Eating fast during binge episodes
- Eating alone or in secret to avoid embarrassment
- Feeling distressed, ashamed, or guilty about your eating
- Frequently dieting, possibly without weight loss
We highly recommend that you seek treatment for binge eating disorder to avoid dangerous health complications. These treatments can include therapy, medical treatments, or professional counseling. Be sure to talk to your doctor so that they can recommend the right treatment for how to deal with your binge eating disorder.
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If you have binge eating disorder and need more information or professional guidance, schedule an appointment with one of our doctors. We can help determine the right treatment for you. Contact us online anytime or give us a call at (619) 373-0229.
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- [1] “Eating disorder statistics 2022”. https://www.singlecare.com/blog/news/eating-disorder-statistics/ (Accessed August 20, 2022).
- [2] “Eating Disorders”. https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions/Eating-Disorders. (Accessed August 20, 2022).
- [3] Arcelus J, Mitchell AJ, Wales J, Nielsen S. Mortality Rates in Patients With Anorexia Nervosa and Other Eating Disorders: A Meta-analysis of 36 Studies. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2011;68(7):724–731. doi:10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2011.74
- [4] Marzilli E, Cerniglia L, Cimino S. A narrative review of binge eating disorder in adolescence: prevalence, impact, and psychological treatment strategies. Adolesc Health Med Ther. 2018 Jan 5;9:17-30. doi: 10.2147/AHMT.S148050. PMID: 29379325; PMCID: PMC5759856.
- [5] “Eating Disorder”. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/eating-disorders. (Accessed August 20, 2022).