Binge Eating Disorder: What is it & do I have it?
Everyone has overeating episodes from time to time, perhaps at a large family gathering or when eating out for a special meal. But there is a substantial difference between overdoing it now and again and Binge Eating Disorder (BED).
As Eating Disorder’s Awareness Week draws to a close, Id’ like to shine a light on BED. It is believed to affect one in fifty people – perhaps the least known and understood but most prevalent eating disorder. BED was in fact only recognised as an eating disorder, in its own right, in 2013.
It’s important to note that BED isn’t about being greedy or lacking in willpower. It is a serious and severe illness, associated with significant physical and psychological problems including anxiety and depression. It is often isolating due to feelings of shame and fear of what others might think about their eating behaviour.
Perhaps you have bingeing episodes (or think you may do). Maybe you believe someone you love struggles with binge eating behaviour. How would you know if what you (or they) are battling with is overeating or in fact BED?
To be clear BED needs to be medically diagnosed as with any eating disorder. However, I would like to share some of the factors that would lead to a BED diagnoses with you here:
Recurring episodes of eating significantly more food than most people would eat (under similar circumstances) in a short period of time.
Feeling out of control -unable to stop eating or control what or how much is being eaten
Eating more rapidly than normal
Eating until feeling uncomfortably full
Eating large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry
Eating alone because of being embarrassed by how much has been eaten
Feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed, or very guilty after overeating
Marked distress regarding binge eating
Absence of regular compensatory behaviours (such as purging or over exercising as with Bulimia Nervosa).
The number of episodes an individual may have within a week can range from one to over fourteen times in extreme cases.
Whether you have a diagnosed eating disorder or not, I understand that for anyone who experiences distress around food and their body, every day is a battle.
But it does not have to be that way.
I have helped hundreds of women overcome these challenges.
The method works, the support is here, and YOU are worthy of it.
It is 100% possible for you to be able to transform your life.