Binge-Eating: The Overlooked Eating Disorder

Many people associate eating disorders with underweight, teenage girls who have negative body images. However, not everyone with an eating disorder is skinny, and many of them don’t even think about their weight or appearance! Binge-eating disorder is very common in young girls and women, yet few people talk about it.

Binge-eaters are at a major risk for bodily harm because they tend to not seek treatment. While it’s often obvious when someone is suffering from anorexia or bulimia, binge-eating disorder is harder to detect. Sufferers are often normal weight, don’t purge as often as a bulimic, and can eat normally around other people. Binge-eating often occurs in private, when the person eats far too much food in a single sitting and sometimes feels sick afterwards.

It’s important to recognize the symptoms of binge-eating in girls before it takes a toll on their health. Early intervention is the key to treatment, such as personalized therapy and behavioral interventions.

Signs of binge-eating disorder

Some of the signs that you or a friend may have a binge-eating disorder are eating more when stressed, eating in private, and feeling sick or upset after a binge. Binge eating is often linked to emotional stress, and the person may be prone to binge in certain situations, such as after an argument or before an exam.

Binge eaters also experience an inability to stop eating or control portions, and they rapidly consume large portions of food, eat when they are full, and often hide food. If you or a friend seems to have some of these symptoms, seek therapy immediately to figure out the proper treatment plan for you.