Binge Eating Disorder: Self Diagnosis and Help
Binge eating disorder is a type of eating disorder, which consists of periods of uncontrollable overeating, means the binge eater takes unnaturally heavy amounts of food in a shorter period. It is an eating disorder differentiated by eating more than a person needs to satisfy hunger.
It is constantly recommended to seek out the guidance and treatment from a doctor or health professional if you think that you have a binge eating disorder. Though it has continued to exist from several years the ill health is a relatively newly recognized disorder and is often referred to as compulsive eating.
The effects of binge eating caused a large number of people around the world. It is relatively same as bulimia nervosa where the sufferer takes in huge amounts of food in a small gap of time due to a lack of control. Because of the nature of the disorder, most binge eating patients are overweight or obese.
The sufferers of binge eating disorder have to purge/vomit, take on huge amounts of exercise, or abuse laxatives to recompense for the amount of food they have taken. However, binge eaters do not go for the compensatory activities although they still have the same feelings of self-disgust and guilt.
Diagnosing Binge Eating through Characteristics and Symptoms
There are numerous classic characteristics of binge eating, each individual experience slightly unique, and the most common symptoms of binge eating disorder:
- During an episode of binge eating disorder, there will be lack of control over food and the sufferer often feels to eat even though they cannot stop eating.
- Eating a huge amount of food when compared to most people who eat within a discreet period of time
- Eating large amounts of food very quickly until the patient feels uncomfortable or even sick.
- Eating large amounts of food when not feeling starve, usually within a period of one or two hours.
- There will be a feeling of self-loathing and self-disgust, depression and guilt after an overeating episode.
- Eating alone due to feelings of embarrassment about the amount eaten.
- The binge eating takes place for at least two days a week for a period of six months.
- It is not related with other eating disorders, like bulimia nervosa, and there will be no vomiting or excessive exercise.
Symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder:
The following are some of the symptoms of binge eating disorder:
- Anxious moods/depression
- Sufferer keeps away from any social events, which involve food
- Takes in food to that point, which causes discomfort or even pain
- Taking in huge amounts of food when not actually hungry
- Eating food at late times in the night
- Eating food secretly alone and hiding food
- Lack of control during a binging eating disorder – inability to stop eating
- Eating quickly without chewing food before swallowing
- Hiding high calorie junk food
- Stable weight fluctuations or rapid weight gain
- Shame, guilt and disgust follow during an episode of binge eating disorder
- Using eating to cope with stress, unhappiness or other psychological or emotional feelings
- Consuming very large or abnormal quantities of food over a shorter period of time
- Associates food with one’s failures and successes
- No compensatory methods follow binging episodes such as vomiting, excessive exercise or abuse of laxatives.