Binge-eating disorder is a serious eating disorder where people tend to consume unusually large amounts of food and they feel unable to stop eating. People with binge-eating disorder feel a compulsion to eat and they can’t resist the urge and continue eating large amounts of food in a short amount of time even if they are not hungry. Emotional stress plays a huge role in triggering an episode of binge eating.
Binge-eating disorder is characterized by excessive overeating which feels out of control and becomes a regular occurrence. An individual might feel a sense of relief during the binging episode, but they usually experience feelings of shame, guilt, psychological distress and loss of control afterward.
Eating disorders affect at least 9% of the population worldwide. Binge eating disorder is the most common eating disorder in the U.S and it is more common in females than males. About 3% of all adults in the U.S have binge eating disorder.
The prognosis of binge-eating disorder is better than other eating disorders, it has a more favorable remission rate.
You should contact your doctor once you have symptoms of binge-eating disorders as possible binge eating problems can vary in their course from short-lived to recurrent or they persist for years if left untreated.
Treatment options for BED include Cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, dialectical behavior therapy and medications.
The goals for treatment of binge-eating disorder are to reduce eating binges and to achieve healthy eating habits. Treatment may also address shame, poor self-image and other negative emotions.