mental health disorders
Binge Eating Disorder
Introduction
Binge eating disorder is an Overview of Eating Disorders characterized by the repeated consumption of unusually large amounts of food (binge eating) with a feeling of loss of control during and after the binge. Binge eating is not followed by attempts to compensate for the excess food eaten—for example, by ridding the body of the excess food consumed (purging). Binge eating disorder is more common among people with overweight or obesity. People eat large amounts of food rapidly, do not purge, and are very distressed by their behavior. Doctors base the diagnosis on people’s description of their behavior. Treatment aims to help people control binge eating and includes cognitive behavioral therapy, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI, a type of antidepressant), and stimulant drugs. Weight-loss programs, some weight-loss drugs, and stimulant drugs may help control weight. Overall, about 3.5% of women and 2% of men have binge eating disorder. But the disorder becomes more common with increasing body weight. In some weight-reduction programs, 30% or more of people with obesity have the disorder. Most people with binge eating disorder have overweight or obesity, and the disorder contributes to their consumption of excessive calories. In contrast, most people with Bulimia Nervosa have a normal weight, and people with Nearly half of the people with binge eating disorder are men. 