Binge Eating Disorder

Binge eating disorder is an illness that resembles bulimia. Like bulimia, the disorder is characterized by episodes of uncontrolled eating or bingeing. However, binge eating disorder differs from bulimia because its sufferers do not purge their bodies of excess food.

Individuals with a binge eating disorder feel that they lose control of themselves when eating. They eat large quantities of food and do not stop until they are uncomfortably full. Usually, they have more difficulty losing weight and keeping it off than do people with other serious weight problems. Most people with the disorder are obese and have a history of weight fluctuations.

Binge eating disorder is found in about 2 percent of the general population -- more often in women than men. Recent research shows that binge eating disorder occurs in about 30 percent of people participating in medically supervised weight control programs.

Get Help

If you fall into any of these descriptions for eating disorders, do not hesitate to contact your physician or a counselor. If you have friends who might have an eating disorder, please encourage them to seek help -- you may save a life!