Binge Eating Disorder

Superior Essays
Eating too much isn 't abnormal-- think about Thanksgiving and Christmas, and when you stuff yourself with holiday treats. There is a big difference between obesity and the psychological disorder called BED. 5% of the world’s population having had this illness at some point in their life. Binge Eating Disorder can be defined as excessive periods of overeating to the point of being uncomfortable, even if one is not hungry. People who binge eat tend to have a restricted diet during the day and prefer to eat alone, leaving them vulnerable to binge at night (Mathes, Brownley, Mo, & Bulik, 2009). Unlike anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, BED does not include behaviors such as excessive exercise or self-induced vomiting. Instead, it is a cycle brought on by feelings of shame and regret due to obesity, leading to a binge and creating that same …show more content…
Siblings, friends, parents and others around them have unique experiences and many different feelings while coping with the effects of binge eating disorder on the person and as well as their own lives. The strain of living with an eating disorder can create tensions and divisions within the family. Each individual involved will most likely be affected in many different ways. Some common examples of coping is initially a state of confusion paired with grief, anger, guilt and or fear.
To conclude, Binge Eating Disorder as a prevailing disorder in the field of psychology is most common in women and children, it can be treated, and the consequences can be severe for the affected and the people around them. Binge eating is a psychological ailment that is very different from obesity. Doctors do not know the exact cause of BED, but strong evidence reveals that it is caused by a combination of environmental, social, and biological factors (Mathes et al. 2009). According to Antioch University Community Psych Eating Disorder Team

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Eating At Night Essay

    • 1010 Words
    • 5 Pages

    This is somehow true, although there is no physiological explanation for it. Several independent studies have found sufficient evidence that links eating late at night with weight gain. Some nutritionists argue that it’s better to sleep while full that go to bed hungry. They say that going to bed while hungry causes the blood sugar level to plummet, and this can reduce the quality of sleep. Sometimes, people get home from work very late at night and are faced with the option of eating before crashing on the bed or going to sleep hungry.…

    • 1010 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    These mental disorders can lead to serious issues and can also worsen the severity of an eating disorder. This study shows that since eating disorders are caused by emotional factors, therefore the mental health of those suffering declines. Although the physical effects of eating disorders show the most prevalence, social effects can also be seen, “Eating disorders can impact relationships with family members, friends and coworkers, as well as functioning in academic setting and the workplace. The health consequences of eating disorder- including heart disease, osteoporosis, and tooth decay- can have long-lasting negative effects (¨Eating¨). Eating disorders can tear relationships apart, and disrupt the social life of whom it is affecting.…

    • 1149 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Imagine a life living in constant fear of gaining weight. Imagine what those with eating disorders go through every day. The cure is not as simple as “just eating something” or “just stop throwing up.” Many people know very little about the specific types of eating disorders and what they truly are. Throughout the world there are people suffering from eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating. The effects of these disorders have on these individuals can be, and often are fatal.…

    • 1284 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Before actually looking into this topic, anorexia, bulimia and BED are completely different, so differently that not many people think it could not be a disorder. They could just think of it as a small phase a person is going through. But it 's not like that. A person with an eating disorder may focus excessively on their weight and shape, leading them to make unhealthy choices about food and potentially damaging vital organs. Eating disorders are life threatening, resulting in death.…

    • 1072 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    A huge amount of situations can accelerate eating disorders to people who are vulnerable. Like when friends and family make fun of the person’s weight, or the person plays sports and they have to look fit. Other horrible things that happen to a person such as rape, negative emotions, death of a loved one, or abuse can be a big boost to disorders. The worst part is that even in a happy event like giving birth, brings stress because of the appearance of the person can lead to disorders. When a women is pregnant she loses her figure she had and that can be very dreadful for her.…

    • 1344 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Introduction Eating disorder is an illness where one has an irregular eating habit due to stress or psychological issues. Eating disorders can develop at any age and stage, but usually appear in young adults. The three most common forms are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorders. The causes of eating disorders are unknown but if untreated they can cause damage to organs in the body. The factors that play a major role in eating disorders are biological, psychological, and environmental abnormalities.…

    • 1124 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Individuals with bulimia nervosa have distorted body image, they pursue slim body size and use compensatory behavior such as self-induced vomiting, purging, to get rid of calories. But individuals with binge-eating disorder don’t do so, they don’t purge to maintain slim body, therefore people with BED are more likely to be overweight or obese. Since overeating is a usual and common behavior and food is normally considered nutritious and good for us, it is blurry to draw a line between normal amount and too-much. The diagnostic criteria from DSM 5 states that BED can be diagnosed when an individual “eating significantly more food in a short period of time than most people would eat under similar circumstances, with episodes marked by feelings of lack of control” (American Psychiatric Association, 2013) and binge eating should occur at least once a week for three months, associate with marked psychological distress. For example, eating when not physically hungry, with a quick speed and feeling of guilt and disgust are all symptoms of BED.…

    • 2118 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating are the three most common eating disorders. Anorexia and bulimia are both disorders in which the motivation is body image and weight. On the other hand, a person with binge eating disorder is one who eats excessively and gains weight. None of the disorders has a definite cause; however, many doctors believe they are tied to depression. There are many ways to help treat eating disorders.…

    • 1419 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    This is because fast food is mostly carbohydrates and as the textbook states, “while carbohydrates may make you unwind, they also reduce your attention and make you drowsy” (Brownell 152). The textbook also states and “[do not] drink large amounts of caffeine” (Brownell 152). I have noticed that caffeine also greatly affects my ability to concentrate. While it is alright in moderation, I get jittery if I have too much and just sitting there and listening becomes arduous. Food is also the fuel that we use for our body, including our brain.…

    • 753 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Bulimia Nervosa Killer

    • 1211 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Depression plays a major role with bulimia nervosa for the reason of that people aren’t satisfied with their figure. Depression isn’t the factor that bulimia nervosa patients face, patients also have the chance of having body injuries, heat stroke, and dehydration because of the excessive amount of exercise performed to lose weight (Cherney). Bulimia nervosa has a possibility of it being genetic or it can be influenced by a family member within the household. Yet females are most likely to developing eating disorders fifteen percent of bulimia nervosa are males which is harder to cure because men are less likely to realize the symptoms that follow it and are less open for the help of receiving…

    • 1211 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays