Binge eating disorder is a serious and potentially life-threatening eating disorder that needs to be treated by a specialist. While some symptoms are similar to other eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia, people with binge eating disorders experience excessive eating episodes without the regular use of compensatory techniques to control their weight and shape, such as purging or fasting.
Also, this disorder is often accompanied by other depression- or anxiety-related disorders and frequently co-occurs with substance abuse problems. There is no single cause of binge eating disorder, but some factors that may contribute to its development include:
- Genetics
- Family history of mental health conditions
- Biological factors
- Psychological factors
While the disorder has a relatively low prevalence, it is often associated with overweight or obesity, which is why it’s important for health professionals to understand the signs and symptoms of binge eating disorder.
The Symptoms
If you’re struggling with a binge eating disorder (BED), you’re not alone. BED is the most common eating disorder in the U.S. You may be surprised to know that binge eating is a type of eating disorder, but it’s not really about eating a lot of food. Instead, it’s about feeling out of control around food.
BED is a serious mental health condition that negatively affects the lives of those who have it. The most common symptoms of binge eating disorder are:
- Feeling out of control of your eating during most meals
- Eating until you feel uncomfortably full
- Eating much more rapidly than usual
- Eating excessively even in the absence of physical hunger
- Eating alone for being embarrassed by the amount of food being consumed in a single sitting.
Note that it is important to distinguish between binge eating disorder and bulimia, which is characterized by binging and purging behaviors. Although, people who suffer from binge eating disorders will often purge their body of the excess calories, either by self-induced vomiting or the use of laxatives.
What should you do if you have a binge eating disorder?
A binge eating disorder is a psychological addiction caused by a person’s inability to resist cravings for unhealthy foods, especially high-calorie, high-fat foods. Because of this disorder, you may be afraid to talk to friends and family about it. But by sharing your feelings and fears about an eating disorder with someone you trust, you can get the help you need. And you’ll be taking a big step towards getting your life back. No worries, there’s still hope; you can be treated with professional support and by making lifestyle changes. You can consult an eating disorder clinic in Altrincham or near your location to get the best possible help from an expert.
The BED Medication
When you have a binge eating disorder, your relationship with food and your body can be very distorted. You may eat when you’re not hungry or may eat huge amounts of food in a short period of time until you feel physically ill. Binge eating disorder is often accompanied by other mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety. And it can lead to serious health problems, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. But binge eating disorder is treatable.
At times, there are medications being prescribed. If you have a binge eating disorder, a combination of therapy and medications may be the best combination for you. The following medications are used to treat binge eating disorder:
- Fluoxetine (Prozac)
- Olanzapine (Zyprexa)
- Fluoxetine (Prozac)
- Fluoxetine (Prozac)
- Fluoxetine (Prozac)
There are many treatments for binge eating disorder, so it is important that you discuss with your therapists or doctor about the prescribed medications. There are also some non-prescribed medications that many people report helping. As with any other medications, talk with your therapist or doctors about side effects.
Other Treatment Options
Aside from these medications, treatment typically includes psychotherapy, which is the most effective form of treatment. Cognitive-Behavioral therapy, the most widely studied form of psychotherapy used for binge eating disorder, is based on the idea that the way you think about yourself, weight, and eating directly impacts your health. Heightened feelings of anxiety can cause people with an eating disorder to feel things a lot more intently, which is why specialists such as an Anxiety Therapist may be needed during the recovery process.
If you’re diagnosed with a binge eating disorder, a therapist will likely recommend treatment options to help you manage the condition. If your binge eating disorder is related to physical or emotional stress, a combination of psychotherapy and medication may be recommended to help you cope with the condition and manage its symptoms. In the case of a more severe condition, hospitalization may be necessary. The most important treatment element for binge eating disorder is to change the way you think about eating and weight.