Binge eating is a little understood eating disorder that tends to affect younger people, including teenagers. This eating disorder can be understood in terms we are all probably familiar with. Remember the feeling of gorging yourself on food on Thanksgiving Day, and the inevitable stomachache and shame that comes afterward? Binge eating resembles this experience, only it occurs on a much more regular basis, and the shame and embarrassment that accompanies it tends to hit harder. Many times, this eating disorder goes undiagnosed. The affected individual might be labeled as having a "healthy appetite," or they may be scolded for eating too much. Since binge eating often affects teenagers-and teenagers are known for their proclivity toward snack foods-the behavior identified with binge eating may be often overlooked.

But binge eating is more than simply eating too much. Consistent and compulsive overeating is the main characteristic of binge eating disorder. People with this eating disorder tend to eat even when they're not hungry. Emotional triggers may send them to cupboards. Feelings of anger, sadness, or stress may cause them to reach out for food to find comfort and solace. Binge eating disorder, like anorexia nervosa and bulimia, is marked by an unhealthy relationship to food. Like bulimia patients, people with binge eating disorder will feed on excessive amounts of snack foods during binges, and then feel guilt or shame about it later. Unlike bulimia however, binge eating does not involve an episode of purging afterwards.

Why do some people suffer from binge eating disorder, and others do not? Most health professionals agrees that there are a variety of factors that may make some people more vulnerable to developing an eating disorder than others. Some experts believe there is a strong biological factor. For instance, it appears that people with binge eating disorder may have a hypothalamus that fails to send the right messengers to the body. For instance, even if an individual has eaten enough, they may not experience feelings of "fullness" because the brain fails to send out these signals. In other cases, binge eating disorder may be related to an unhealthy relationship of food that can be traced to childhood. Some people learn unhealthy eating habits from their family, and are unable to break free of these patterns later in life.


A person with binge eating disorder will probably manifest a number of symptoms, including an obvious problem with overeating or eating when not hungry. Individuals with binge eating disorder may eat fast and experience excessive weight gain. Many individuals who suffer from binge eating disorder will conduct private eating sessions. They may keep a hidden "stash" of food in secret places for these moments. Afterwards, most people with binge eating disorder experience feelings of shame and guilt.

People with binge eating disorder may have trouble seeking help for their condition due to embarrassment. However, this is a serious condition that can lead to numerous health conditions. It can be treated through psychotherapy, nutritional therapy, and sometimes with the aid of prescription drugs.

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