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Break the all-or-nothing thinking of
dieters
and emotional eaters with strategies that foster
normal eating.
Almost 1/3 of women who seek treatment to lose weight have
binge eating disorder. Yet this eating disorder -- perhaps
the most common of the eating disorders - is much less recognized
than the eating disorders of anorexia and bulimia.
The typical perception is that an obese person is someone
who just eats too much. Yet many obese people suffer from
binge eating disorder - a form of emotional eating that overtakes
their lives. Indeed, most people develop eating disorders
as a coping mechanism for emotions and feelings that are difficult
for them to handle.
This article gives information on eating disorders, and guides
binge eaters in getting help for eating disorders.
Defining Binge Eating Disorders
The official definition of binge eating disorder describes
a person who:
- eats very large amounts of food in a rapid manner
- within a short period of time (two hours or so)
- two or more times a week
- for a period of six months or more
- accompanied by a feeling of being out of control.
Less frequency or shorter length of time may describe binge
eaters, which is a step below binge eating disorder on an
emotional eating scale.
The most important distinction between overeating and binge
eating or binge eating disorder is the feeling of being out
of control. The feeling of loss of control lies at the core
of the reason for binge eating disorders. Binge eating has
become a way to cope with feelings, yet it doesn't really
help. Binge eaters have developed a habit of soothing or escaping
from emotions through the use of food, but end up exacerbating
their uncomfortable feelings in the long run.
Causes of Binge Eating Disorders
Effective Treatment For
Binge Eating Disorders requires recognizing the triggers
for binge eating. The two most common triggers are getting
overly hungry, and a feeling of deprivation. What does that
sound like? A diet, right? Indeed, dieting is thought to strongly
exacerbate binge eating for many people who suffer from binge
eating disorders.
This can be seen in the fact that obese people with binge
eating disorders often became overfat at a younger age than
obese people without binge eating disorder. Their history
with food includes many instances of yo-yo dieting. It's important
to note, though, that people who are not obese can also suffer
from binge eating disorder. Likewise, many obese people are
not binge eaters.
The root of binge eating disorders for most people, however,
is poor self esteem. For a woman in this society, that often
gets translated to excessive concern about appearance or weight,
which leads to dieting. Problems with depression, anxiety
and relationships also often exist in people with binge eating
disorder.
Binge eating disorder is a prelude to bulimia, an eating
disorder that also often goes unrecognized. Bulimia is the
method employed to get rid of the excess food that is ingested
during a binge eating episode. The methods include purging,
laxative use and excessive exercise.
Treatment for Binge Eating
Disorders
The self-help book Overcoming Binge Eating by Dr. Christopher
Fairburn lists steps to Stop
Binge Eating. If these steps don't work for you, seek
professional help in the Treatment
For Binge Eating Disorders. Eating disorders can be overcome.
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