Binge Eating Disorder – What is it? Let’s backtrack.

I’m guilty.

Writing about and confronting Binge Eating Disorder is of profound importance to me. A big part of it is No More Secrets. That’s this blog. I’m oversharing in a way that most people would find horrifying and embarrassing. Luckily, my mother taught me that nothing was off the table. To my horror and embarrassment. But, hey! Moms! Try and try but their influence sinks in.

BUT, I failed to lay the groundwork first. I dove right in. This is something I have a tendency to do.

Sorry!

Let’s take a step back.

For those of you who are following this battle, I offer this groundwork. To do that far better than I could, I’m checking in with NEDA – the National Eating Disorders Association. Although, I might have that acronym wrong. It’s not spelled out on their website. So, THEY are also guilty of assuming you know! Hah. I’m in good company.

I digress.

Which I also have a tendency to do.

Back on point. The blue stuff that follows is an unauthorized, ask forgiveness vs permission, copy and paste from the NEDA website. Sorry not sorry.

What is Binge Eating Disorder? 

“Binge eating disorder (BED) is a severe, 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 using unhealthy compensatory measures (e.g., purging) to counter the binge eating. It is the most common eating disorder in the United States.”

Well, duh. I mean, duh for me and anyone suffering from B.E.D. Not duh for you, if you aren’t.

DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA

• Recurrent episodes of binge eating. An episode of binge eating is characterized by both of the following: 
  • Eating, in a discrete period of time (e.g., within any 2-hour period), an amount of food that is definitely larger than what most people would eat in a similar period of time under similar circumstances.
  • A sense of lack of control over eating during the episode (e.g., a feeling that one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating).

Gotcha covered. I’ve even skipped ahead and blogged about this stuff – and will more as I deal with it. Lucky you.

• The 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 feeling physically hungry.
  • Eating alone because of feeling embarrassed by how much one is eating.
  • Feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed, or very guilty afterward.
• Marked distress regarding binge eating is present.
• The binge eating occurs, on average, at least once a week for 3 months.
• The binge eating is not associated with the recurrent use of inappropriate compensatory behaviors (e.g., purging) as in bulimia nervosa and does not occur exclusively during the course of bulimia nervosa or anorexia nervosa.

Yeah. It only hurts because it’s true. Plus maybe when you read about it from me. That might hurt a little too.

WARNING SIGNS & SYMPTOMS OF BINGE EATING DISORDER

Emotional and behavioral 

• Evidence of binge eating, including disappearance of large amounts of food in short periods of time or lots of empty wrappers and containers indicating consumption of large amounts of food.
• Appears uncomfortable eating around others 
• Any new practice with food or fad diets, including cutting out entire food groups (no sugar, no carbs, no dairy, vegetarianism/veganism)
• Fear of eating in public or with others
• Steals or hoards food in strange places  
• Creates lifestyle schedules or rituals to make time for binge sessions  
• Withdraws from usual friends and activities 
• Frequently diets  
• Shows extreme concern with body weight and shape  
• Frequent checking in the mirror for perceived flaws in appearance
• Has secret recurring episodes of binge eating (eating in a discrete period of time an amount of food that is much larger than most individuals would eat under similar circumstances); feels lack of control over ability to stop eating  
• Disruption in normal eating behaviors, including eating throughout the day with no planned mealtimes; skipping meals or taking small portions of food at regular meals; engaging in sporadic fasting or repetitive dieting
• Developing food rituals (e.g., eating only a particular food or food group [e.g., condiments], excessive chewing, and not allowing foods to touch).
• Eating alone out of embarrassment at the quantity of food being eaten
• Feelings of disgust, depression, or guilt after overeating
• Fluctuations in weight
• Feelings of low self-esteem

Physical 

• Noticeable fluctuations in weight, both up and down 
• Stomach cramps, other non-specific gastrointestinal complaints (constipation, acid reflux, etc.) 
• Difficulties concentrating

Shut Up! It’s like you know me! This is so uncanny. Unreal. (Are you buying any of this?) Yeah – no. Not if you’ve read any of my earlier blogs.

No nice neat little pithy conclusions.

The most satisfying of blog articles is when the author ties it up in a nice neat little inspirational bow of plucky self-love and determination. But, you’ve met me.

The second most satisfying of blog articles are titled with numbers. Like “10 easy steps to eradicating binge eating disorder.” People love those. Seriously. Look it up. It’s the number 1 way to guarantee people will open your post to begin with.

Instead, I offer you bullet points. And they aren’t even my bullet points. Hope that helps.

And a preview.

Coming soon…. Treatment methods for Binge Eating Disorder. Part 2 in my scintillating “Let’s Backtrack” series of 2 posts.

 

I’m Susan Scot Fry, the author of “A Year of Significance”. In 2020, I take on the greatest nemesis of my life: Binge Eating Disorder. With a side of aplomb sauce. Honest, occasionally humorous and sometimes I swear.