How many of us can really resist getting seconds (or thirds) when grandma cooks her famous collard greens, pot roast and sweet potatoes? Not too many people that I know.
But, there is a thin line between eating and binge-eating disorder. The latter is a life-threatening disorder with several health risks.
READ: Eating Disorders: Do You Know The Warning Signs?
This week is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, and many people have never heard of binge-eating disorder, or BED. Yet, BED, is a very common thing – plaguing an estimated 2.8 million American adults. It’s also the most prevalent eating disorder for African Americans, a National Survey of American Life study found.
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Here is a list of symptoms for binge-eating disorder:
- Eating a larger portion of food than most people would eat within a two-hour period, or having no sense of control over the amount of food you eat
- Eating until you feel too full or uncomfortable
- Eating just to be eating – not because you’re actually hungry
- Feeling too embarrassed by the amount of food you eat to dine with others
- Feeling guilty about the amount of food you just ate
If you feel any of these things, it’s best to start keeping notes of each episode. You should also schedule an appointment with a physician. A few details to discuss with the doctor include:
- The length of each binging episode
- How long you have been dealing with binge eating
- What was happening in your life when you noticed the binge eating started
- How you felt during and after binge eating
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BED is treatable and very manageable, according to BingeEatingDisorder.com. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is the most widely-used therapy which encourages regulating eating habits by setting realistic eating goals, self-monitoring and modifying any negative self-perceptions.
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Then there is Interpersonal Therapy, which is recommended for people who binge eat to cope with an underlying social problem, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy for people who binge eat to cope with a painful emotional experience.
Keep in mind, BED is a relatively new disorder. Some doctors may be learning more about the disorder just as you are. Continue to ask questions and discuss any research or news you may have read online or seen on TV. Speak out about any specific symptoms you feel. Also, don’t hesitate to ask for referrals to specialty doctors if you feel your physician didn’t answer all of your questions.
Download a BED Symptoms Checklist here.
