Everyone likes to indulge from time to time – but most of us know when to draw the line. For the percentage of people suffering from binge eating disorder knowing when to stop is the problem. A third helping of dinner, excessive snacking and large portion sizes can contribute to the disorder that affects up to two percent of adults in the United States.
People who suffer from binge eating will often have episodes in which they will eat for up to two hours at a time – causing great distress on the stomach. Binge eating is often a symptom of an underlying problem and is often associated with stress and emotional problems that may be occurring within the life of the patient suffering from a binge eating disorder. Binge eating is not characterized by vomiting or fasting after the excessive meal. After a bout of binge eating the patient may feel upset, distressed and overwhelmed after the binge has occurred.
The effects on the body are not the only effects that overeaters suffer from. Depression is a major side effect of the disorder. The state of mind that comes with the binge eating disorder is often treated through the use of a therapist. Binge eating is considered to be an eating disorder and therefore needs to be treated accordingly.
There are many behavioral indicators that someone is suffering from binge eating, these signs include:
·        The sufferer may have an inability to stop eating although they know they are satisfied or full
·        Eating large amounts of food quickly
·        Eating for more than a period of one hour
·        Storing food that can be consumed later or hiding food from friends and family members
·        Not adhering to any meal schedule but eating continuously throughout the day
·        Hiding your eating habits in public, making up for this behavior by consuming above average amounts of food while at home
There are three main causes of binge eating disorder; biological, psychological, and social causes. Biological causes may include a disorder within the part of the brain called the hypothalamus which regulates sending messages to the brain to indicate fullness. Research is in the works that has found signs of a genetic mutation that can contribute to the development of binge eating disorder. Psychological causes for binge eating include depression, as studies have found that at least fifty percent of binge eaters are suffering, or have suffered in the past from depression. Social causes for binge eating disorder include teaching children to use food as comfort or those people receiving constant critical advice about their weight, or appearance of their body. There are truly numerous causes to binge eating which have not been discovered – and research is ongoing to diagnose the cause in hopes that it may lead to a viable treatment.
Physical complications of binge eating can occur within weeks of the behavior. There are many disorders which are caused by the behavior of binge eating, these include; diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea and osteoarthritis.
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