Binge eating disorder happens to be a very recently recognized eating disorder and is often known as compulsive overeating. Some of the researchers hold that binge eating disorder is one of the most prevalent forms of eating disorders and affects millions of Americans every year. The condition is typically characterized to be excessive and uncontrolled eating that leads to a feeling of embarrassment and guilt as well.
When a person is suffering from binge eating disorder, he/she might end up eating large amounts of foods than we generally do under the same situations. While we eat just about 1,500 calories to 3,000 calories a day, people suffering from binge eating disorder would be eating about 10,000 to 20,000 calories a day.
The exact definition of binge eating disorder is a matter of debate yet. Although it is assumed that an episode of binge eating can last for about 1-2 hours, some experts hold that the episode can even last for the whole day.
Binge eating disorders might not really have obvious physical signs and symptoms. However, you are likely to be over weight, or obese, to be more precise. But some normal weighted people can also suffer from binge eating disorder, while most obese people might not.
Treatment professionals are very well aware of the binge eating disorder symptoms, although there isn’t any proper method for diagnosing binge eating disorder. Some of the symptoms of binge eating disorders are quite similar to the symptoms of bulimia nervosa as well. However, bulimia nervosa is characterized by purging of the excessive food with the use of laxatives or by vomiting, which isn’t the same with binge eating disorder.
Binge eating disorder symptoms include both physical symptoms and mental and behavioral symptoms.
The Physical Symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder
The physical symptoms are very much alike the signs and symptoms of a person who is overweight, since bingeing on a daily basis would lead to rapid weight gain. The symptoms include:
- excessive body weight
- high blood pressure
- diabetes
- high cholesterol
- irregular menstruation cycle in women
- chronic kidney problems and kidney failure
- osteoarthritis
Mental and Behavioral Symptoms
An individual suffering from binge eating disorder is likely to experience some mental as well as behavioral complications. These conditions can be very embarrassing for the person and the symptoms of such condition is characterized by –
- recurrent binge eating problems
- eating rapidly than usual
- eating even faster being full that leads to discomfort
- eating even when there is no urge or hunger
- eating alone most of the times to avoid any embarrassing situations
- depression, stress and anxiety due to over eating
- guilt and self-disgust
- obsessive thoughts.
Diagnosing binge eating disorder isn’t everyone’s job and only expert professionals can determine the disorder accurately. Also, if you are suffering from binge eating disorder, it is not necessary that all the symptoms of the condition would be obvious. It can also be a probable indication of some other type of eating disorder.