Bingeing Facts. Learn Why and How is Caused

Bingeing, or binging, is a process in which a person has unrestrained incidents of eating. An episode of binging involves intake of a great amount of calories in a very short period of time.

Bingeing episodes often occur in response to some stress or trigger that causes the binge eater to lose control. Often bingeing is done in secret, and a binge eater can consume, in one setting, almost twice the amount of daily calories allotted for a single person.

Why Binge Eating?

There is no one underlying cause for bingeing and its subsequent eating disorders, binge-eating disorder and bulimia nervosa. The APA does state that those prone to bingeing also tend to have impulsive personalities, which would fit in with the loss of control over eating.

Like most disordered eating, bingeing is associated with low self-esteem and depression, meaning that studies have consistently reported subjects with eating disorders display similar symptoms of depression. Therefore, bingeing is often associated with feelings of helplessness, poor body image and inadequacy.

At BingeEating.net, we understand the complicated emotions that accompany bingeing, and the importance of getting help. We can guide your through the process, call us at 1-800-896-8012.

Binges

The actual process of bingeing can be triggered by any number of things: a stressful day at work, a fight with a family member, even a comment from a schoolmate about the person's weight. Depending on the disorder, a binge can be planned out in advance, and the bingeing often happens in solitude.

Although bingeing affects millions in the U.S.—between 2 to 5 percent have binge-eating disorder, while another 1 to 4 percent suffer from bulimia nervosa—the number of people with unreported bingeing is expected to be much higher than both those eating disorders combined.

Binge Eating Help

There are ways to stop bingeing and its negative effects on social lives, careers and emotional well-being. Programs can help those who binge regain control over eating and food, while addressing the individual issues that lead to a life of bingeing. A person seeking bingeing help can receive treatment at an outpatient clinic, a residential eating disorder facility, or a local self-help group, such as Food Addicts Anonymous or Overeaters Anonymous.

Binging

Binging is incredibly dangerous because of its cyclical nature. For those with bulimic behaviors, a binge is followed by a purging behavior, in which the person "fixes" the bingeing by self-induced vomiting, abusing laxatives or diuretics, or taking part in excessive exercise. The feelings of shame and guilt from bingeing are temporarily removed, but the negative feelings from the behavior and overall low self-esteem lead to another bingeing episode.

For BED behaviors, there is no purging episode, but the feelings of hopelessness and shame from the bingeing behavior can sometimes be so overwhelming they lead directly to another binge.

Binge Eating Treatment

Getting treatment for bingeing behaviors is important, as an eating disorder will not go away on its own. bingeing also carries serious health risks, including gastrointestinal problems, tooth decay, high blood pressure, diabetes and other problems associated with obesity.

At BingeEating.net, we have the resources to guide you to the bingeing treatment that can help you regain control over your eating habits. Call us today at 1-800-896-8012 and visit our website at www.bingeeating.net.