Eating disorders are serious and often lead to long-term health problems. While anorexia and bulimia are two of the most common disorders, there is also a disease called binge-eating disorder that you need to be aware of. If you are unfamiliar with the disease, then read on to find out more and to also discover how it is treated.

What Is Binge Eating Disorder?

Binge eating disorder is similar to bulimia due to the fact that individuals will binge eat a large quantity of food. However, individuals suffering from bulimia will go through a purge cycle after binging. This is not something that people go through with binge eating disorder. They will simply eat a lot of food within a few hours. The quantity is multiple times more than what a typical person would eat in a similar period of time, and with no period of trying to eliminate the food or the calories consumed afterward.

When someone goes through a period of binge eating, they will eat quickly, consume food until feeling abnormally full, and will eat alone. Feelings of disgust, embarrassment, and depression are likely to follow. 

Binge eaters are usually overweight due to the number of calories consumed during a binge, and episodes are likely to occur at least once a week for several months. As the disease progresses, the binges may increase in number and severity.

How Is Binge Eating Disorder Treated?

Binge eating disorder is treated in a similar manner as other types of eating disorders since the binging is often a direct response to emotional turmoil, depression, anxiety, and other types of mental disorders. The emotional issue is diagnosed and treated, and usually, medication is started. However, if past events are associated with the disorder, then the trauma must be addressed by a counselor. This requires cognitive therapy.

Behavior therapy is almost always required to help restore healthy eating habits. Individuals learn how to express emotions and to cope with negative feelings.

Usually, individuals with binge eating disorder will need to understand how to create a healthy diet plan. If obesity is an issue, a nutritionist may work with you so a calorie-reduced diet can be coupled with an exercise regimen to help eliminate some of the weight gained while binge eating.

Some people will focus on dieting instead of binging. This is as unhealthy as eating large quantities of food, so a nutritionist will help you to lose weight gradually so weight loss does not become an obsessive issue.

If you want to know more about eating disorders, then speak with a dedicated mental health professional who can offer treatment options for eating disorders.