In an April 1 article on the Huffington Post, author Dr. Susan Albers wrote about American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi's revelation of struggling with an eating disorder -- and how her problem (binge eating disorder) is often misunderstood:

Kara recently spoke about her battle with an eating disorder. Specifically, she discussed her struggle with the symptoms of "Binge Eating Disorder," which is generally characterized by eating large amounts of food, feeling out of control while doing so and using food to deal with emotions.

It's not just about overeating. When your eating is out of control, causes you distress or is impacting your physical and emotional health, you may have Binge Eating Disorder. ...

Without proper diagnosis, it is often difficult to get treatment and to fully understand the nature of the problem. It's estimated that 3.5 percent of American women and two percent of American men have binge eating disorder.*

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Mental health experts are continuing their debate over where to include binge eating disorder in the next edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V, which is scheduled to be published in 2013).

Some experts are arguing that binge eating disorder is just another form of overeating, and since 67 percent of Americans are overweight, they cannot all be mentally ill.

However, Chevese Turner, chairman of the Binge Eating Disorder Association, believes the disorder should be included, noting that only 3.5 percent of women and 2 percent of men suffer from it.

In order to be diagnosed with binge eating disorder, the person must experience shame, guilt and a lack of control during episodes of over eating. The disorder often starts in the teen years, and 70 percent of those who have it are obese. Most suffer from depression, anxiety, and other addictions.

"The official definition of the binge eating is consuming a large amount of food in a brief time, usually under two hours," said Dr. Cindy Bulik, director of the Eating Disorders Program at the University of North Carolina. "The kicker is feeling out of control. This is not the Super Bowl or Thanksgiving -- it has to include an out-of-control feeling. Forty-one percent of liability to binge eating disorder is due to genetic factors. The rest is due to environment."

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Binge eating disorder is characterized by periods of excessive food consumption. This makes the disorder similar to bulimia, but individuals suffering from bulimia consume massive quantities of food within relatively short periods of time and then utilize one or more drastic strategies to purge the excess calories from their bodies.

These purging strategies may include the use of laxatives, excessive exercise and self-induced vomiting. Individuals suffering from binge eating disorder, however, do not purge. One of the most noticeable effects of the disorder, therefore, is usually massive weight gain.

Research has linked binge eating disorder with a variety of serious health problems, including hypertension (high blood pressure), obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Individuals who become obese from excessive food consumption also experience myriad other health issues related to obesity, including musculoskeletal problems, high cholesterol and respiratory strain.

Individuals suffering from binge eating disorder eat compulsively, meaning they will consume large quantities of food whether they are hungry or not. They often feel that they have no control over their eating behaviors. A binge eater may consume between 10,000 and 20,000 calories during a single binge incident, while the average person consumes about 1,500 to 3,000 calories per day.

Recent research suggests several risk factors for binge eating disorder, including age (a higher percentage of people in their 40s and 50s have the disorder), the past or current existence of other eating disorders, mental health issues (in particular anxiety and depression), a history of sexual abuse, social pressures, genetics and high-stress jobs.

Although binge eating disorder is not currently recognized as a distinct clinical disorder, some experts believe it to be the most common form of disordered eating. As obesity in the United States hits an all-time high, eating disorder treatment providers are working to develop treatment strategies specifically for individuals struggling with binge eating disorder.

(Source: www.medicalnewstoday.com)

Labels: binge-eating, treatment, bulimia

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Binge eating affects approximately 3.5 percent of women and 2 percent of men in the United States, yet medical professionals and much of the public remain unfamiliar with this eating disorder. Also referred to as compulsive overeating, binge eating is not yet officially recognized as a clinical disorder; however, some experts believe that it is every bit as serious as bulimia and anorexia.

During the holidays, with the increased emphasis on food and family meals, all eating disorder sufferers face heightened distress. However, binge eaters may find themselves particularly challenged, in the same way that alcoholics are challenged by the holiday atmosphere. In the words of one recovering binge eater, on Thanksgiving and Christmas, "You have this license to really go out of control, and it's acceptable behavior. Nobody notices that you're eating 12 pieces of pie, because you're just trying each one there."

Self-help groups such as Overeaters Anonymous (OA) can provide opportunities for binge eaters to find support and begin the process of recovering. According to some recovering binge eaters, drastic life changes are necessary.

One binge eater described how he used to order eight or 10 platters at a Chinese restaurant and think nothing of it. But, now that he is in recovery, he doesn't let family bring desserts to his home; he doesn't buy Halloween candy to distribute to trick-or-treaters; and he didn't even have a cake at his wedding. During the holidays, he attends additional OA meeting to help steady his resolve and commitment to lead a healthier lifestyle.

(Source: www.suntimes.com)

Labels: binge-eating, support, compulsive overeating

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Recent research suggests that a few months of a specific type of talk therapy may help bulimia sufferers stop their unhealthy behaviors.

A multi-study review by Dr. Phillipa P.J. Hay at the University of Western Sydney in Australia found that bulimia-specific talk therapy (a form of cognitive behavioral therapy [CBT]) led to cessation of symptoms in approximately 37 percent of those treated.

By contrast, among bulimics on a waiting list for treatment, only 3 percent stopped binge-eating and purging.

The review included data on 3,054 adults living in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom who participated in weekly sessions of CBT for an average of 16 weeks.

Bulimia-specific CBT focuses on an individual's dietary habits and weight-related fears, and works to identify and deconstruct distorted thinking patterns. Patients learn to replace these unhealthy patterns with healthy coping strategies.

(Source: abcnews.go.com)

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Researchers at Missouri University (MU) found in a recent study that deactivating the brain region involved with emotion could block the consumption of certain foods, but may not stop the craving for those foods.

Matthew Will, an assistant professor of psychological sciences at MU, described the experiment as possibly "short-circuiting" the brain networks which are associated with shifting from craving to consumption.

The experiment was conducted using rats. In both rats and humans, the brain releases chemicals known as opioids, which reward certain behaviors. Opioids have been shown to trigger binge eating in non-hungry rats and humans.

"The hope is that the more detailed we can biologically define the feeding process from beginning to end, the more we will understand how to address a feeding disorder such as overeating," Will said. "Since overeating is not a product of a hunger epidemic in this country but rather an addiction to food, this model is trying to figure out what in the brain regulates this latter type of feeding."

(Source: www.columbiamissourian.com)

Labels: binge-eating, emotions, opioids, brain chemistry

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A recent study by Harvard University and Children's Hospital Boston found that teenagers who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB) are at higher risk than their heterosexual peers for disordered eating behaviors.

The study found higher rates of binge-eating among LGB teens in its examination of data from a U.S. survey of about 14,000 12- to 23-year-olds. Female LGB teens were about twice as likely as their heterosexual peers to report binge-eating at least once a month.

Significantly, the study detected the highest risks for eating disorders among male LGB teens. Those surveyed were seven times more likely than their straight peers to reporting binge-eating and 12 times more likely to report purging.

(Source: www.baywindows.com)

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Clinical psychologist Cynthia Bulik is the director of the Eating Disorders Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She recently released a new book, Crave, about binge eating and how to conquer food cravings.

"It is my mission to inform as many people as possible about the dangers of binge eating, to help those who already feel trapped to escape, and to prevent others from falling into the dangerous cycle of binge eating. Be it prevention or treatment, success is my ultimate goal."

During her studies at the University of California at Berkeley, Dr. Bulik noticed a consistent connection between eating disorders and depression. Her research has led her to develop tools aimed at helping patients curb their cravings, and she's seen excellent results. She calls her approach, which she explains in the book, as "down to earth, user friendly, and very practical." Source: Good Morning America

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According to a new joint study by the University of Minnesota, University of Texas, and St. John's University researchers, vegetarians have healthier diets but are also at higher risk for eating disorders. The team analyzed more that 2,500 males and females aged 15-23. Vegetarian adolescents and young adults were more likely than non-vegetarians to report binge eating with loss of control. In addition, study results indicated that vegetarians may be at higher risk for unhealthy weight-control behaviors such as diet pills, vomiting, laxatives, and diuretics.
(Source: www.littleabout.com)

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A new study from Italy reports that infertile couples are more likely than fertile couples to suffer from a range or mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and, for women, binge-eating disorder. The study participants included 81 infertile couples and 70 couples that were not infertile. Among females, approximately 18 percent displayed binge-eating behaviors compared to none of the fertile female participants. As a result of the study, researchers recommend mental health screenings for couples who are dealing with infertility. Researchers were not able to determine conclusively whether the increase mental distress of infertile couples was just a response to infertility or actually a contributing factor.

(Source: www.redorbit.com)

Labels: binge-eating, infertility

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