When we think about eating disorders, we often think about restrictive behaviours such as anorexia nervosa or compensatory methods such as bulimia nervosa. What is very frequently forgotten, or even worse, completely dismissed, is Binge Eating Disorder, or B.E.D.
What Is It:
Binge eating disorder is a formally recognized and diagnosable eating disorder. It is severe, can cause a multitude of health risks such as osteoarthritis, chronic kidney problems or failure, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, increased risk of stroke, diabetes, heart disease, and is potentially life threatening, with increased risk of substance abuse and suicide; it is also the most common eating disorder.
It is characterized by recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food, often very quickly, in secret, and often leads to extreme physical discomfort or pain. It is accompanied by a feeling of a loss of control during the binge, with some people describing an “out of body experience” in which they do not have the capability to stop the behaviour while it is occurring.
An individual may also experience intense feelings of shame, distress or guilt afterwards.
It is NOT the occasional overeating that many people partake in from time to time. Due to the fact that many people have overeaten at some point, there is a lack of understanding about B.E.D. which adds embarrassment and shame, and can prevent individuals from seeking help.
As with other eating disorders, the physical symptoms are accompanied by psychological symptoms. Common characteristic are feelings of low self-esteem, lack or confidence in decision making abilities, poor body image, anxiety, and depression. These are often accompanied by a preoccupation with eating, food, body shape and weight. In addition, B.E.D. can often serve as a method to self soothe when distress tolerance and stress management coping mechanism are not well developed.
The reasons for developing BED will differ from person to person. Known causes include genetic predisposition and a combination of environmental, social and cultural factors. Similar to other eating disorders, BED can occur in people of all ages and genders, across all socioeconomic groups, and from any cultural background, and studies suggest that an equal number of men and women experience BED.
It is important to understand that you cannot tell by a person’s physical appearance whether or not they have an eating disorder - this include B.E.D. Due to the negative feelings about food, and their complex relationship with it, individuals with BED will often binge when they are alone, or at night. They may attempt to hide evidence of a binge, for fear of judgement.
The secretive nature of the illness, plus the shame associated with the behaviour, can often delay a person from seeking help.
When To Get Help
As with all eating disorders, the earlier the intervention, the closer you are to recovery. If you are struggling, or suspect someone you care about is impacted, seek professional advice. There are a variety of options to choose from, starting with your GP.
Recovery IS possible, and working with professional support can greatly assist in the road to recovery.
https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/binge-eating-disorder