Binge eating

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Binge eating is a pattern of disordered eating which consists of episodes of uncontrollable eating. It is a common symptom of eating disorders such as binge eating disorder and bulimia nervosa. During such binges, a person rapidly consumes an excessive quantity of food. A diagnosis of binge eating is associated with feelings of loss of control.<ref name="Mitchell_2007">Template:Cite book</ref> Binge eating disorder is also linked with being overweight and obesity.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

DiagnosisEdit

The DSM-5 includes a disorder diagnosis criterion for Binge Eating Disorder (BED). It is as follows:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Recurrent and persistent episodes of binge eating
Binge eating episodes are associated with three (or more) of the following:
- Eating much more rapidly than normal
- Eating until feeling uncomfortably full
- Eating large amounts of food when not physically hungry
- Eating alone because of being embarrassed by how much one is eating
- Feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed, or very guilty after overeating
Marked distress regarding binge eating
Absence of regular compensatory behaviors (such as purging)

Warning signsEdit

Typical warning signs of binge eating disorder include the disappearance of a large quantity of food in a relatively short period of time. A person who may be experiencing binge eating disorder may appear to be uncomfortable when eating around others or in public.<ref name="NED_2017">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A person may develop new and extreme eating patterns that they have never done before. These might include diets that cut out certain food groups completely such as a no dairy or no carb diet. Binge eating can begin after a first attempt at dieting.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite journal</ref> They might also steal or hoard food in unusual places.<ref name="NED_2017" /> A person may be experiencing fluctuations in their weight. In addition, they may have feelings of disgust, depression, or guilt about overeating.<ref name="NED_2017" /> Another possible warning sign of binge eating is that a person may be obsessed with their body image or weight.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Furthermore, patients who binge eat may also engage in other self-destructing behaviours like suicide attempts, drug use, shop-lifting, and drinking too much alcohol.<ref name="Newton_1993">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="Lacey_1993">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="Stein_2004">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> The onset of binge eating without dieting is linked to a higher risk of mental health issues and a younger age of onset.<ref name=":0" /> BED patients can experience comorbid psychiatric instability.<ref name=":0" />

CausesEdit

There are no direct causes of binge eating; however, long-term dieting, psychological issues and an obsession with body image have been linked to binge eating. There are multiple factors that increase a person's risk of developing binge eating disorder. Family history could play a role if that person had a family member who was affected by binge eating. Said person may not have a supportive or friendly home environment, and they have a hard time expressing their problems with BED. Having a history of going on extreme diets may cause an urge to binge eat. Psychological issues such as feeling negatively about oneself or the way they look may trigger a binge.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Weight stigma has also been found to predict binge eating,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> highlighting the importance of weight inclusive approaches to binge eating disorder that do not exercerbate this potential cause.

Health risksEdit

There are several physical, emotional, and social health risks when associated with binge eating disorder. These risks include depression, anxiety, and heart disease.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

One study found that people with obesity who experience binge eating have a higher body mass index, and higher levels of depression and stress than those who did not have with binge eating disorder<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Exposure to two major categories of risk factors—those that raise the risk for obesity and those that raise the risk for psychiatric disorders in general—can be associated with binge eating disorder.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

EffectsEdit

Typically, the eating is done rapidly, and a person will feel emotionally numb and unable to stop eating.<ref name="Zweig_2012">Template:Cite book</ref> Most people who have eating binges try to hide this behavior from others, and often feel ashamed about being overweight or depressed about their overeating. Although people who do not have any eating disorder may occasionally experience episodes of overeating, frequent binge eating is often a symptom of an eating disorder.Template:Citation needed

BED is characterized by uncontrollable, excessive eating, followed by feelings of shame and guilt. Unlike those with bulimia, those with BED symptoms typically do not purge their food, fast, or excessively exercise to compensate for binges. Additionally, these individuals tend to diet more often, enroll in weight-control programs and have a history of family obesity.<ref name="Nolen-Hoeksema_2013">Template:Cite book</ref> However, many who have bulimia also have binge-eating disorder.Template:Citation needed

Along with the social and physical health that is affected when suffering from BED, there are psychiatric disorders that are often linked to BED. Some of them being but are not limited to: depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, substance abuse/use disorder.Template:Citation needed

TreatmentsEdit

Current treatments for binge eating disorder mainly consist of psychological therapies, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT),<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT),<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT).<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> A study conducted on the long term efficacy of psychological treatments for binge eating showed that both cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and group interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) effectively treat binge eating disorder, with 64.4% of patients completely recovering from binge eating.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate, also known as Vyvanse, is the only medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of moderate-to-severe binge eating disorder in adults as of 2024.<ref name="pmid35576089">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="FDA">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Fala 2016">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> However, some studies have called into question its effectiveness for this indication.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

HistoryEdit

APA DSMEdit

The American Psychiatric Association mentioned and listed binge eating under the listed criteria and features of bulimia in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) - 3 in 1987. By including binge eating in the DSM-3, even if not on its own as a separate eating disorder, they brought awareness to the disorder and gave it mental disorder legitimacy. This allowed for people to receive the appropriate treatment for binge eating and for their disorder to be legitimized.

Drug therapyEdit

In January 2015, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (Vyvanse), the first medication indicated for the treatment of moderate-to-severe binge eating disorder.<ref name="pmid35576089"/><ref name="FDA"/><ref name="Fala 2016"/>

Men with binge eatingEdit

Men with binge eating often face unique barriers to seeking treatment due to socio-cultural expectations surrounding masculinity. After men compare their bodies to the culturally constructed masculine ideals, they often develop heightened concerns about their own body image and internalize the belief that their bodies should be muscular, lean, and strong, developing unhealthy behaviors like binge eating or using fad diets.<ref>DeBate, R., Lewis, M., Zhang, Y., Blunt, H., & Thompson, S. H. (2008). Similar but different: Sociocultural attitudes towards appearance, body shape dissatisfaction, and weight control behaviors among male and female college students. American Journal of Health Education, 39(5), 296–302.</ref><ref>Reel, J. J., & Beals, K. A. (2009). The hidden faces of eating disorders and body image. Sewickley, P.A.: AAHPERD Pubs.</ref> Many men hesitate to reach out for help out of fear of appearing weak, 'less like a man' or even homosexual.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Ray, S. L. (2004). Eating disorders in adolescent males. Professional School Counseling, 8(1), 98-101.</ref> The pervasive stereotype that eating disorders primarily affect women has contributed to feelings of shame and isolation among men who are affected by these disorders. This gender-based stigma surrounding eating disorders and strongly feminine branding of eating disorder treatment centers create a significant barrier to men's willingness to reach out for support.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Men are more likely to partake in compulsive or excessive exercising as a compensation to highly calorific diets, leading to body dysmorphia.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>