What Causes Binge-Eating Disorder?
Binge-eating disorder — while not an “official” eating disorder — is getting lots of research attention because of increasing rates of obesity. People with binge-eating disorder eat large amounts of food at one sitting at least two days a week for six months. Their binges also have three of these five characteristics: • Eating faster than normal. • Eating until uncomfortably full. • Eating large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry. • Eating alone because of embarrassment. • Feeling disgusted, depressed, or very guilty after overeating. Approximately 4 million people in the United States have binge-eating disorder, binging without purging. They eat compulsively — sometimes thousands of calories at one sitting — until they feel stuffed. Most people with binge-eating disorder are obese, defined as being 20% to 30% above their desirable weight. They usually have a history of weight problems and weight fluctuations. It is thought that negative emotions — anxiety, depress
