What is Binge Eating?
Binge eating is one of the more common types of eating disorders. What differentiates binge eating from other eating disorders is that individuals try to maintain rigid dieting only to binge at later periods and without purging. In doing so individuals increase caloric intake to where it falls well above recommended guidelines resulting in weight gain.
The causes of eating disorders like binge eating are not well understood and are thought to come from a variety of sources. Cultural influences from peers and the media that place great importance on a specific body image and type may play a great part in the development of binge eating, especially among adolescents. Biological factors may also be an underlying cause of binge eating, similar to personality disorders. There is some evidence that individuals with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder may be predisposed to developing binge eating.
Because eating disorders are also associated with other psychological conditions such as depression, anxiety disorders, and other mental illnesses, diagnosing binge eating can be particularly difficult. In instances of dietary excess, complications related to obesity and diabetes may arise. Binge eating can lead to severe physical complications over time. In serious cases, organ problems, especially relating to the heart, may be found.
Treatment options are highly specified to each individual. Combinations of varying methods are used and require long-term commitments as changes in behavior take time to make. Due to the obsessive-compulsive nature of binge eating, counseling with a psychologist is an important part of treatment for patients along with varying forms of behavioral therapy.
