Binge-Eating Disorder

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Symptoms & Treatments

Because most people with binge-eating disorder are overweight or obese, most of the physical complications associated with the disorder are ones commonly associated with obesity:

• diabetes,
• high blood pressure,
• high cholesterol level,
• gallbladder disease, and
• heart disease.

The behavioral signs and symptoms of binge-eating disorder include:

• missing work, school or social activities in order to binge;
• for obese people who binge, a preoccupation with appearance or feeling bad about oneself;
• avoiding social gatherings because of bad feelings about oneself; and
• a feeling of shame and an effort to hide the problem (sometimes they are so successful that even close family members don't know there's a problem).

Treatment

First, treat the underlying problems, then diet. The truth of it is, many people with binge-eating disorder are in fact at risk for many of the complications associated with obesity, and they do need to lose weight.

However, strict or unsupervised dieting is NOT a good idea. Studies have shown that episodes of strict dieting trigger binge-eating, exacerbating the problem. Most people with binge-eating disorder have a difficult time staying in weight-control programs and are more likely to quickly regain lost weight.

Before anyone with binge-eating disorder attempts to lose weight, they should seek out treatment for the underlying eating disorder. By addressing the underlying problems first, people with binge-eating disorder can avoid the frustrations of yo-yo dieting and the feelings of failure when diets "don't work." Treatment usually includes a mix of:

• cognitive-behavioral therapy: this type of therapy teaches patients how to recognize and change their eating habits and the way they respond to things that normally trigger binges;
• interpersonal therapy: this type of therapy helps people better understand their relationships with their friends and family and address problems that may be related to the way they interact with food;
• medication (e.g., antidepressants) can be helpful for some patients;
• self-help groups or group therapy are a good way to find support and meet other people who are dealing with the same challenges.

Binge-Eating Disorder, Symptoms, Treatment reprinted with permission from womenshealthchannel.com
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