How is binge eating disorder diagnosed?

Binge eating disorder is a serious, life-threatening eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of eating large amounts of food (often very quickly and to the point of discomfort); a feeling of a loss of control during the binge; experiencing shame, distress or guilt afterwards; and not regularly engaging in compensatory behaviors (e.g., purging) like those with bulimia nervosa.

Unlike bulimia nervosa, people with binge eating disorder do not routinely attempt to “compensate” for their binge eating through vomiting, fasting, or excessive exercise. As a result, people with binge eating disorder often suffer from obesity and related health problems.

Binge eating disorder is the most common eating disorder in the United States, affecting 3.5% of women, 2.0% of men, and 1.6% of adolescents.

While the exact causes of binge eating disorder are unknown, a combination of genetic, biological, behavioral, and psychological factors are thought to contribute to the development of the disorder.

Binge eating disorder is diagnosed when an individual experiences recurrent episodes of binge eating (as described above) without engaging in regular compensatory behaviors (e.g., purging) and experiencing considerable distress about their binge eating.

A diagnosis of binge eating disorder can be made by a mental health professional such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, or clinical social worker. The first step in diagnosis is typically a clinical interview, during which the mental health professional will ask about the individual’s eating habits, feelings and thoughts about their eating and body, and any related physical or psychological problems.

In addition, the individual will be asked to complete a psychological questionnaire or self-test, which can help to assess the severity of the disorder and rule out other possible psychological disorders.

Laboratory tests (e.g., blood tests, weight and height measurements) may also be conducted to rule out other possible physical causes of the individual’s binge eating and to assess for any related medical problems.

If you think you or someone you know may have binge eating disorder, talk to a mental health professional. Don’t wait to get help, as binge eating disorder can lead to serious physical and psychological problems..Citation

How common is binge eating disorder?

binge eating disorder is a serious, life-threatening and treatable eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food (often very quickly and to the point of discomfort); a feeling of a loss of control during the binge; experiencing shame, distress or guilt afterwards; and not regularly engaging in compensatory behaviors (like purging) to counter the binge eating.

While the exact cause of binge eating disorder is not known, a combination of genetic, psychological and environmental factors may contribute to its development. Binge eating disorder affects both sexes, but is more common in women. It typically begins in adolescence or young adulthood, but can occur in children and older adults as well.

While there are no official statistics on the prevalence of binge eating disorder in the United States, it is estimated that between 2 and 5 percent of Americans suffer from the disorder. Binge eating disorder is also thought to be the most common eating disorder in the United States.

We used mengeredstoo.co.uk to write this article about overcoming binge eating disorder. Original Article.