Binge Eating Syndrome

Newly recognised as an eating disorder that affects millions of people around the globe, particularly people who have a tendency to be overweight or are already at the stage of exhibiting obesity. People suffering from binge eating syndrome typically consume abnormally large portions of food due to their feeling of lack of control over their eating.

Overeating or eating more frequently than required is a common trait. Overeating though in itself is not a sign of binge eating syndrome.

People exhibiting binge eating syndrome tend to eat large amounts of food more frequently than most and feel out of control about their eating habits.

Typically sufferers will:

• Eat faster than what is considered normal
• Continue eating even after they are full
• Consume large amounts of food even though they are not hungry
• Eat alone, in an effort to hide their eating habits
• Exhibit depression due to their eating habits

Binge eaters frequently forego the social aspects of their lives, even their work ethic, missing social functions or being absent form work, due to their inability to control their eating habits.

Obese individuals who also suffer from binge eating syndrome usually exhibit low self esteem and go to elaborate lengths to disguise their eating habits from their friends and family, sometimes so successfully, their condition is unknown to their social circles.

The effect of extreme diets on binge eating syndrome are still unclear, although obese individuals who follow a strict diet are more likely to binge, as they are more susceptible to the impulsive behaviour characteristic of the condition.

Binge eating syndrome is recognised as being the most common of all eating disorders, affecting a large number of people in the obese section of the population. The condition is more likely to occur in women and seems more prevalent in obese people who were also overweight during childhood. These people show extreme episodes of losing and gaining weight and their loss/gain patterns are more frequent than obese individuals who do not show the symptoms of binge eating syndrome.

Binge eating syndrome has a deep rooted psychological background, something which is also exhibited by people who are severely overweight or obese. Severely obese individuals tend to have impulsive behavior patterns, which translate into impulsive eating patterns. A fact that contributes to their overall weight gains in the first place, and also sows the seeds for the development of binge eating syndrome.

Anybody suffering from Binge Easting would do well to seek medical advice, as the syndrome can degenerate into a serious health problem. Addressing the problem through a nutrition based weight loss program has also been effective and could prove beneficial to most sufferers. One such nutrition based weight loss program is Fat Loss 4 Idiots.

The health issues of binge eating syndrome are common to the risks associated with being overweight or obese. These are:

• increased risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes
• increased risk of Heart Disease
• increased risk of suffering a Stroke
• high Blood Pressure
• Liver disease and Cirrhosis
• Infertility
• complications arising during Pregnancy
• increased risk of developing Osteoarthritis
• increased risk of developing Cancer - mainly in the oesophagus (gullet) and pancreas
• increased risk of suffering from Sleep Apnea

Severely obese individuals who also exhibit binge eating syndrome could well show an improvement in the condition if they first address their overall weight problem. Binge eating is closely associated to psychological factors and addressing weight issues reduces some of the factors causing the condition.