Binge Eating Disorders (BED) are very real, and I am glad that you are trying to find answers for your friend!
There are a few different types of eating disorders that include binging, and to know if your friend has an eating disorder, disordered eating, or if her eating is just "unhealthy", you can read the criteria below for some answers (as well as talk with her about how she feels before/during/after eating). When someone is suffering from an eating disorder, it means they may be using food to combat strong negative emotions.
Warning Signs of Binge Eating Disorder (]]>Renfrew Center]]>)
* Eats large amounts of food when not physically hungry.
* Eats much more rapidly than normal.
* Eats until the point of feeling uncomfortably full.
* Often eats alone because of shame or embarrassment.
* Has feelings of depression, disgust, or guilt after eating.
* Has a history of marked weight fluctuations.
What you could observe: does your friend consuming an unusually large quantity of food in a short period of time (less than 2 hours) uncontrollably?
Here are some other ways that you can know if your friend has a Binging Eating Disorder (]]>National Eating Disorder Association, NEDA]]>):
- characterized primarily by periods of uncontrolled, impulsive, or continuous eating beyond the point of feeling comfortably full.
- there is no purging, there may be sporadic fasts or repetitive diets and often feelings of shame or self-hatred after a binge.
- people who overeat compulsively may struggle with anxiety, depression, and loneliness, which can contribute to their unhealthy episodes of binge eating.
- body weight may vary from normal to mild, moderate, or severe obesity.
Binge Eating Disorder vs. Bulimia:
Binge Eating Disorder" is also called "Compulsive Overeating". What DIane was also referring to above, with asking if your friend purges (makes herself vomit, over-exercising, uses laxatives, etc.) is called Bulimia Nervosa, which is a type of eating disorder that includes binging and then using compensatory behaviors to get rid of the food.
Can you tell us more specifically the behaviors that you have observed in your friend?
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Binge Eating Disorders (BED) are very real, and I am glad that you are trying to find answers for your friend!
There are a few different types of eating disorders that include binging, and to know if your friend has an eating disorder, disordered eating, or if her eating is just "unhealthy", you can read the criteria below for some answers (as well as talk with her about how she feels before/during/after eating). When someone is suffering from an eating disorder, it means they may be using food to combat strong negative emotions.
Warning Signs of Binge Eating Disorder (]]>Renfrew Center]]>)
* Eats large amounts of food when not physically hungry.
* Eats much more rapidly than normal.
* Eats until the point of feeling uncomfortably full.
* Often eats alone because of shame or embarrassment.
* Has feelings of depression, disgust, or guilt after eating.
* Has a history of marked weight fluctuations.
What you could observe: does your friend consuming an unusually large quantity of food in a short period of time (less than 2 hours) uncontrollably?
Here are some other ways that you can know if your friend has a Binging Eating Disorder (]]>National Eating Disorder Association, NEDA]]>):
- characterized primarily by periods of uncontrolled, impulsive, or continuous eating beyond the point of feeling comfortably full.
- there is no purging, there may be sporadic fasts or repetitive diets and often feelings of shame or self-hatred after a binge.
- people who overeat compulsively may struggle with anxiety, depression, and loneliness, which can contribute to their unhealthy episodes of binge eating.
- body weight may vary from normal to mild, moderate, or severe obesity.
Binge Eating Disorder vs. Bulimia:
Binge Eating Disorder" is also called "Compulsive Overeating". What DIane was also referring to above, with asking if your friend purges (makes herself vomit, over-exercising, uses laxatives, etc.) is called Bulimia Nervosa, which is a type of eating disorder that includes binging and then using compensatory behaviors to get rid of the food.
Can you tell us more specifically the behaviors that you have observed in your friend?
September 3, 2009 - 1:12pmThis Comment
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