If you make it a habit to eat more than you should, sometimes to the point where your stomach hurts or even when you're not hungry, this most likely manifests itself as a weight problem or obesity. However, what you perceive as simple gluttony on your part may be what doctors call binge-eating disorder, and it's the most common eating disorder in the United States, according to the Weight-Control Information Network, or WIN.
Binge-Eating Disorder
Binge-eating disorder should not be confused with the occasional over-indulgence, such as when you stuff yourself at a holiday meal or enjoy a stomach-stuffing, five-course birthday dinner. This eating disorder, although defined as a distinct psychiatric condition such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia, is characterized by frequent overeating, says MayoClinic.Com. This type of gluttony causes you to feel shame and embarrassment, and it's often shrouded in secrecy. People with binge-eating disorder often eat alone--even though they're not hungry--and subsequently feel self-loathing at the sight of empty snack wrappers on the table. Depression and anxiety are also characteristic of binge-eating disorder. Obesity isn't always associated with this disorder, says WIN; people with a healthy weight can binge-eat. In addition, most overweight individuals don't suffer from binge-eating disorder, although it's more common in people who suffer from obesity. Binge-eating disorder affects 3 percent of American adults.
Middle-Age Women
According to WIN, you can have binge-eating disorder at any age. However, it's seen more frequently in adults between the ages of 46 and 55, usually in women. Binge-eating disorder affects the African-American and white populations equally. WIN indicates that binge-eating disorder in other ethnic groups hasn't been studied. People with this disorder who are obese may have had weight problems when they were younger, losing weight and gaining it back through various, failed methods of dieting.
Getting Help
If you have binge-eating disorder, you may feel as though you cannot control your gluttony. The first step to losing weight is not stringent dieting, but addressing the emotions and psychological issues that cause you to overeat, says MayoClinic.com. Individual or group psychotherapy, specifically cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy, teach you to identify factors that trigger a binge as well as help you acquire the skills necessary to address stressful situations. Your treating physician may combine your therapy with medications such as antidepressants or sibutramine, a weight-loss drug designed for long-term use. A medically-supervised weight loss program may be advised, but MayoClinic.Com indicates that getting your disorder under control usually comes first. Diets very low in calories can trigger binges.
Lifestyle Changes
You need professional treatment to overcome your eating disorder--this isn't something you can do alone, cautions MayoClinic.Com. However, you can make simple changes at home to further your progress. Don't keep a lot of food in your house, even if this means going to the market more frequently. Avoid quick-fix diets. Eat a healthy breakfast so you won't be tempted to "make up for it" later in the day. Keep in close contact with your friends and family. Ask your primary care physician if an exercise plan is appropriate for you. But first and foremost, remain committed to your treatment plan.
The Need for Change
Binge eating doesn't just take a toll on your self-esteem; it can compromise your health. According to WIN, obesity puts you at risk for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, gallbladder disease, heart disease and even cancer. Remember that you're not the only one suffering from this type of eating disorder. Have a straight talk with your doctor so you can get the long-term treatment you need. A slow, methodical approach is far more likely to help you lose weight and keep it off for a lifetime.
Member Comments