Binge Eating Disorder Causes, Symptoms, Diangosis and Treatment

What is Binge Eating Disorder?

Binge eating disorder is defined as compulsive overeating, in which people tend to consume huge amount of food while plagued with the inability to stop.
Symptoms of binge eating disorder generally occur in late adolescence and early adulthood. Usually lasting two hours, a binge eating episode may go activate and deactivate all day long.

It is marked by eating even when one is sated. Affected individual may eat at an extremely fast pace while barely registering what they are eating. Unlike bulimia, there are no attempts to counter the binges via purging or fasting.

It is generally accompanied by feeling of disgust, weakness and self-loathing. Although very common in adults, binge eating disorder does not receive the same media coverage as anorexia nervosa and bulimia.

A serious disorder, binge eating disorder is treatable. With proper exercise and sleep, it can be managed.

Causes of Binge Eating Disorder:

A number of factors combined may lead to the development of binge eating disorder. These factors include:

Environmental factors
Experiencing trauma has been linked to development of binge eating disorder
Binge eating disorder has been linked to physical abuse, perceived risk of physical abuse, stress, and body criticism
Biological factors
Inability of hypothalamus to send correct messages about hunger and fullness
Low levels of brain chemical serotonin
Genetic mutation which may cause food addiction
Heritability
Social and cultural factors
Social pressure to be thin may trigger emotional binge eating
Parents may use food as a reward which may lead to food addiction in the children
Psychological factors
Depression, low self-esteem, loneliness and body dissatisfaction is linked to binge eating

Symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder:

The following symptoms are exhibited:

Inability to stop eating or control what and how much is consumed
Rapidly eating large amounts of food
Eating even when full
Hiding or stockpiling food to eat later in secret
Eating normally around others, but gorging when alone
Eating continuously throughout the day, with no planned mealtimes
Feeling stress or tension that is only relieved by eating
Embarrassment over binge eating
Feeling numb while bingeing
Never feeling satisfied, no matter how much food is consumed
Feeling guilty, disgusted, or depressed after overeating
Desperation to control weight and eating habits
Weight gain

Diagnosis of Binge Eating Disorder:

Binge eating disorder may be diagnosed via:

Psychological evaluation
A physical exam
Blood and urine tests
A sleep disorder center consultation

In order to be diagnosed, the following criteria must be met:

Recurrent episodes of eating an abnormally large amount of food
Binge eating at least once a week for at least three months
Binge eating that’s not associated with purging, such as self-induced vomiting, or other compensating behaviors to lose weight, such as excessive exercise or laxative use