Binge Eating Disorder: The Uncomfortable BED

              When society sees a person losing weight to the point of an emaciated figure, it immediately recognizes the illness that person is suffering from: an eating disorder. Most of society would then reach out a hand to help that person and get him/her the right treatment. Yet this limited perception of the scope of eating disorders causes  a lot of people suffering to slip under the radar. Eating disorders are not just characterized by the exercise of restraint from food or excessive exercise. There are some struggling with eating disorders who are unhealthily drawn to food, instead of away from it. Rather than seen as struggling with an illness society sees these people as struggling with their weight on account solely of their own actions. The reality remains that many people who are struggling with their weight are struggling with an eating disorder, whether they appear very slim or a little bigger. One major eating disorder that addresses detrimental cravings and desires for food is Binge eating Disorder

                Binge eating Disorder (BED) oftentimes presents itself in the form of a larger and sometimes obese body. When checking for  BED, the main issue at hand is the frequency and volume of food intake. One with BED will engage in repeated episodes of binge eating which entails a lack of control. Ultimately resulting in a very large consumption of food within a two hour period.  The activity during and after the two hour binge will also reveal more information. Someone with BED demonstrates at least three of the following characteristics with regards to eating. Either food is eaten too quickly, or food is consumed past the point of satiation, or food is eaten of embarrassment from the sheer quantity of how much is being eaten by one individual, especially in groups. Other characteristics include food being eaten despite lack of hunger and the expression  of guilt and/or depression after eating large quantities

                In order to be diagnosed with  binge-eating disorder, the episodes of binge eating must  occur quite regularly: at least twice a week for a six-month period. If one is participating in binges this frequently, one would be much more susceptible to developing health drawbacks such as high cholesterol or diabetes. These negative health consequences prove binge-eating disorder to be a detrimental medical problem. Eating patterns that are  strong and persistent even for a six-month period can most definitely prove deleterious to one’s health as they become more and more engrained into one’s lifestyle. It is important that we recognize those suffering from binge-eating disorder as deserving of proper treatment rather than receive societal taunts for their actions.  People suffering from BED are suffering and should be gently and kindly encouraged to seek treatment and get help just as anyone else suffering from an illness.

THIS POST HAS NOT YET BEEN REVIEWED BY EXPERT FACULTY .