Binge Eating Facts

It will probably be helpful to let you know a few binge eating facts. All too often people make assumptions  about binge eating that they later find to be incorrect.Binge eating is when a person eats a very large portion food and doesn’t purge it like a bulimic or anorexic.  They also do not take any measures to burn the extra calories through exercising.  Consequently, most binge eaters will gain weight very quickly, though it is possible to be a smaller size and have the condition, particularly if a person has a fast metabolism.  Either way, the illness must be addressed because it puts a person at risk for diabetes, heart disease and other problems associated with eating poorly.

So, how does a binge eating session differ from occasional overeating during the holidays or at a buffet?   Well, the keyword is ‘occasional.’  Average people may consume more calories than they want if they are having a good time, but it is usually ‘every now and then.’  Binge eaters overeat constantly, and do so in a way that is not typical.  For example, they may eat over 10,000 calories in the course of just a couple hours.  The foods consumed tend to be high in fat, salt and carbohydrates… fruits, vegetables and even meat usually are not on a binge eater’s menu.  Additionally, binge eaters will go through a binging session whether or not they are hungry. 

According to Wikipedia.com 4 million Americans have this disorder.  Surprisingly, many suffering through this condition have actually dieted in the past.  In fact, it is not uncommon for binge eaters to actually have concern for their weight, since many will feel incredibly guilty once their binging session has finished.  However, unless they get professional help, they usually won’t succeed in losing weight on their own, since dieting only makes binging worse for most sufferers.