Binge-eating disorder is also known as compulsive overeating.

A person with binge-eating disorder frequently eats abnormally large amounts of food (usually junk food) quickly at one sitting, even when they are not hungry. They feel a loss of control over how much they are eating and will continue to eat until they are uncomfortably full even in pain.

This eating behaviour is likely to take place in secret due to the feelings of shame and disgust that follow a binge-eating episode.

Although binge eating is an element of the eating disorder bulimia, binge-eating disorder is different from bulimia because it does not involve the purging of calories after a binge by vomiting or the use of laxatives (or some other means).

Binge-eating disorder is likely to result in the sufferer becoming overweight or obese, although this is not always the case.

Who Suffers from Binge-Eating Disorder?

Unlike anorexia and bulimia, binge-eating disorder has only been accepted relatively recently as a serious eating disorder. It is difficult to say how many people suffer from binge-eating disorder as it is thought many cases go unreported.

It is estimated that between 2 percent and 5 percent of Americans experience binge-eating disorder in a 6-month period (NIMH).

Sufferers of binge-eating disorder are likely to be overweight or obese (although most people who are overweight or obese do not suffer from binge-eating disorder).

What Causes Binge-Eating Disorder?

Several causes of binge-eating disorder have been proposed which are likely to be interrelated.

Binge-eating disorder is widely considered to have an underlying psychological cause. Negative emotional states including depression, stress, boredom, anxiety, low self-esteem and general unhappiness are thought to trigger the use of food as a form of comfort. This may or may not be a behaviour that is learned in childhood.

Other proposed causes include:
* A genetic predisposition
* Chemical imbalances in the brain and metabolism

Binge-eating disorder can be thought of as something of a vicious circle: a person binge eats because they are unhappy, and they are unhappy because they binge eat.

Physical Characteristics of Binge-Eating Disorder

All or some of these characteristics may be present:

* Being overweight or clinically obese
* Fluctuations in weight
* Digestive problems
* Joint and muscular aches and pains
* Chest pains
* Headaches
* Breathlessness
* Other characteristics associated with being overweight

Behavioural Characteristics of Binge-Eating Disorder

All or some of these characteristics may be present:

* Depression and low self-esteem, generally feeling miserable
* Avoidance of social situations
* Binge eating in secret and at odd times
* Yo-yo dieting
* Obsessing about and criticising physical appearance
* Feelings of guilt after eating a lot of food
* Finding comfort in food
* Hiding food and empty containers of food
* Difficulty sleeping

Health Risks of Binge-Eating Disorder

The health risks of binge-eating disorder include:

* Malnutrition due to eating junk food with little or no nutritional value
* Heart disease
* Type 2 diabetes
* Stroke
* High blood pressure
* High cholesterol
* Gall bladder disease
* Certain types of cancer
* Respiratory problems
* Kidney disease
* Arthritis
* Other health problems associated with being overweight

Preventing Binge-Eating Disorder

It is feasible that binge eating is a learned behaviour in childhood, especially if parents encourage the use of food as comfort for stressful or upsetting situations. Therefore it is important not to use food as a comfort tool and instead encourage healthy eating habits by eating nutritional meals together as a family whenever possible.

Knowing the physical and behavioural signs that someone may be binge eating is important. Encouraging the person concerned to get help early on will help them to prevent the long-term negative health consequences of becoming overweight or obese.

Risk Factors for Binge-Eating Disorder

The following have been cited as risk factors:

* Becoming overweight in childhood or during the teenage years
* Frequent dieting with weight fluctuations
* Unpleasant experiences, such as abuse, bullying and discrimination in childhood or adulthood
* Exposure to negative comments about physical appearance in childhood or adulthood

Diagnosis, Treatment and Recovery of Binge-Eating Disorder

There are different approaches to dealing with binge-eating disorder, and different approaches work for different people. The sooner treatment is sought, the better, as being overweight has negative consequences for long-term health.

It is usually not enough to just 'go on a diet', as this does not address the root cause of the problem and could exacerbate the dieting / binge eating cycle.

In addition to a general practitioner examining the sufferer's physical health, they may advise cognitive behavioural therapy, psychotherapy or self-help groups, which can be useful in addressing the triggers for binge eating. In some cases antidepressants may be prescribed.

As with all eating disorders, there is an abundance of help available and a full recovery is possible.