General Info on Eating Disorders

Binge Eating Most Common Eating Disorder

With waif-like, thinning actresses being accused of it left and right, anorexia has probably become the best-known eating disorder. But new data show that this eating disorder noted for low caloric intake is not the most popular.

Binge eating, also known as compulsive-eating disorder, is the intake of too many calories at one time. It is in fact the most common form of eating disorder in the United States, say researchers. This disease, defined as periods of uncontrollable eating, seems to affect 3.5 percent of women and 2 percent of men at some point in their lives.

"Everybody knows about anorexia and bulimia; however binge eating disorder affects more people, is often associated with severe obesity and tends to persist longer," said Dr. James I. Hudson, lead study author from McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts.

Anorexia nervosa, a disease defined by the intake of too few calories, by contrast affects fewer than 1 percent of women and much fewer men. Bulimia, another eating disorder defined by the "purging" of food after it is consumed, affects 1.5 percent of women and 0.5 percent of men.

"Binge eating has a higher incidence than either one of the other eating disorders," said Dr. John Bunnell, the director of outpatient clinical services at the Renfrew Center in Wilton, Connecticut.

An eating disorder is defined as an unhealthy eating habit. Though most eating disorders involve limiting food intake, binge eating is the complete opposite. It is the uncontrolled intake of food well past the point of hunger.

People with a binge eating problem may eat when they are experiencing emotional difficulties: stress, anger or hurt. And while food can serve as a comfort, often it is their only way of dealing with their problems.

"Binge eating is more equally distributed across genders," said Bunnell.

In a nation with ever-expanding waistlines, binge eating, of course, puts people at risk for piling on the pounds. Moreover, it increases your risk of diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke.

It is not understood why some people turn to binge eating, but experts believe that it is a combination of factors, including genetics, emotions and eating behaviors that are learned during childhood.

Someone with a binge eating disorder tends to eat very rapidly until uncomfortably full, often these periods occur more than twice a week. And these symptoms are combined with a tendency to eat alone out of embarrassment, and feel depressed, guilty or disgusted after a binge.

Less research has been done on binge eating than anorexia and bulimia, but treatment for a binge eating disorder can be successful. With time and the work of doctors, nutritionists and psychiatrists, said Bunnell, any eating disorder can be overcome.

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New Jersey's largest health insurer has agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit brought by parents of children with eating disorders.
 
Horizon Blue Cross/Blue Shield of New Jersey will pay $1.2 million to about 500 patients whose claims were denied.
 
A lawyer for the plaintiffs said Tuesday that eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia will be classified as a biologically based mental illness.
 
Previously, the company limited treatment benefits because the disorders were classified as nonbiological in nature.
 
Horizon spokesman Tom Rubino said the company "believes the settlement is in the best interest of the parties involved and in line with the direction of federal parity for mental health."
 
A federal judge in Newark overseeing the case still must sign off on the settlement.

I post this here because my wife works at a very expensive eating disorder clinic. The sad part is that it seems mostly the rich get the treatment while the poor are denied as a rule because most insurance companies refuse to pay. This article shows that slowly but surely this is changing.

Happy ThanksGiving and stop eating when you are full, and don't over eat and then purge.

JS