Binge-eating is seen as eating disorder
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Leslie DiMaggio les...@naafa.org
Binge-eating is seen as eating disorder It is recognized as growing health problem in U.S.
Thursday, May 20, 2004 By SUE VORENBERG SCRIPPS HOWARD NEWS SERVICE "Helen" doesn't mind that she hasn't eaten chocolate in 21 years.
In fact, the longtime member of Overeaters Anonymous says she hasn't even missed it, which is the real miracle.
Helen, 66, who asked that her real name not be used, is thin now, but she remembers the old days.
She used to eat jelly beans and Snickers bars in bed until she p***ed out from insulin shock. Her obsession with food consumed her.
"I just ate all the time, and if I wasn't eating I was thinking about how to get more food," she said, her blue eyes mirroring the intensity of her addiction. "I didn't go to a show to see a movie. I went to have license to eat. I would even plan my binges. I would line food around my bed so I could eat until I p***ed out." Helen's symptoms are typical of a newly recognized disease called binge-eating disorder, although she calls herself a compulsive overeater.
Her disease is one of three eating disorders -- anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are the others -- that are on the rise across the United States, said Joel Yager, a University of New Mexico psychiatry professor who specializes in eating disorders.
"There has been a definite rise in anorexia and bulimia every year since the 1950s," Yager said. "That may have to do with society's preoccupation with slimness, as fashion models and actresses have gotten slimmer on TV and in magazines. That creates a lot of social peer pressure to be an unhealthy low weight." Binge-eating disorder -- which is diagnosed in about 70 percent of people more than 100 pounds overweight -- is also rising across the United States in women and men. It is part of the obesity epidemic, caused by underlying mental disorders complicated by an overabundance of unhealthy food and poor exercise habits, Yager said.
In Helen's case, binge-eating disorder left her susceptible to Type 2 diabetes and joint problems. She also had frequent memory loss after her food binges, she said.
She bottomed out in 1983, as a nursing student in California. Her 5-foot-6 frame had swelled to 215 pounds, 85 more than her suggested ideal weight of 130.
The root of Helen's disease is very similar to anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, both of which are ***ociated with unhealthy weight loss.
Anorexics starve themselves to be thin and face a host of health problems, including bone loss, heart failure and death. Bulimics binge on food, but then force themselves to vomit, creating health problems such as heart failure, ulcers and malnutrition, Yager said.
"JMA" bjennif...@yahoo.com
cross posts snipped ...
They're a little slow on the draw. The book I have - Overcoming Binge Eating - is copyrighted in 1995 and lists Binge Eating Disorder as an eating disorder.
Jenn
"Beverly" bow...@home.woh.rr.com
Your constant remedy for eating disorders has been "to just quit doing it".
If only it were that easy. Your attitude shows you know absolutely nothing about the disorders or addictions. Many in the group have had problems with binge eating. Fortunately for many of us we were able to overcome the problem - for others it's a constant battle. I would hope you have the decency to see the difference and try to show support for these people instead of brushing it off as something that's easily overcome.
I've seen the results of addiction and know it's not always possible for people to overcome them even when they know it's not best for them. I had a very dear family member who was an alcoholic. He had everything in the world to live for but he couldn't beat the addiction. He literally drank himself to death. He quit his job, stocked his house with alcohol and went on a drinking binge until he went into a coma and died. As hard as we tried we just weren't able to help him overcome his addiction.
Your flippant attitude toward addictions and eating disorders is not very supportive. My mother always said "If you don't have anything nice to say -
keep your damn mouth shut".
"Beverly" bow...@home.woh.rr.com
I don't believe I said it was impossible. I simply said many people are never able to overcome their addictions regardless of how much they try.
Unfortunately your simplistic 'just do it' approach doesn't work for everyone but you seem to think it should. Hell - why don't you teach your approach to all those poor professionals that have been struggling for years to find the cure for addictions.
"JMA" bjennif...@yahoo.com
How many cigarettes did he need daily to stay alive? People with a real binge eating disorder still need to eat food every day.
"Not always possible" were the exact words Beverly used. That phrase is not identical to impossible.
Semantics aside, there isn't a lot of clinical data to back up the notion that food is addictive though it appears that the mechanisms that drive binge eating (in binge eating disorder) may be similar to those driving alcohol or drug abuse. (from the Fairburn book) This distinguishes binge eating disorder from bulimia or anorexia, the other two eating disorders that involve binge eating.
Not to speak for Beverly, but I believe the point she was trying to make is that your constant "just stop doing it" approach makes you appear like a sanctimonious and arrogant person who offers little help to people looking for support because of the way you "brush off" and belittle the difficulties faced by people. It's amazing the number of different people in this group who have repeatedly told you this and yet you still don't get it.
"Beverly" bow...@home.woh.rr.com
I couldn't have said it any better !!
I don't think he'll ever get it. In 'Ig's world' everything is possible if you 'just do it'. We can all lose weight if we quit eating at a specific time in the evening and pack our lunch in a specific size plastic container.
I usually ignore most of his posts but it's been a tough day for me. Time for me to go to bed.....
"Perple Gyrl" perpleg...@comcast.net
Hi Beverly... I tried to email you, but got bounced. Can you email me?
Thanks!
perpleglow(at)comcast(dot)net :) ...
"Beverly" bow...@home.woh.rr.com
Just emailed you the real one.....
Beverly ...
jmk jmk446...@yahoo.com
On 5/20/2004 8:50 PM, Ignoramus32087 wrote: Uh, I do recall you mentioning eating chocolate though. Baker's chocolate sounds yucky to me but "Helen" is discussing chocolate, not sweets.
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jmk in NC
"rosie" readandp...@yahooORhotmail.com
:..................... Hell - why don't you teach your : approach to all those poor professionals that have been struggling for years : to find the cure for addictions.
: : believe me, many try..............................
jan ...@london.uk (janice)
On 21 May 2004 11:47:25 GMT, Ignoramus32087 Food is a bit different from alcohol or cigarettes, though, because as far as I know giving up food is not an option for most people.
janice
jmk jmk446...@yahoo.com
On 5/21/2004 1:44 PM, Ignoramus29346 wrote: I think taht you left out a few words. It's not impossible *FOR YOU* to avoid those foods.
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jmk in NC
jan ...@london.uk (janice)
Yes, but to be fair, for many years anorexia and bulimia were seen as eating disorders, but binge eating went unrecognised. I still suspect that most of the medical profession find it far harder to comprehend than the first two.
janice
jan ...@london.uk (janice)
On 21 May 2004 17:44:25 GMT, Ignoramus29346 I can't comment on bulimics because this is not a behaviour I've even remotely contemplated. However, for me bingeing consists largely of the foods I know I'll be forced to limit when I'm back on track if I want to lose weight - because they're calorie dense. I see this more as the binge being the other side of the coin to the diet, rather than being drawn towards these foods because of an addiction. It's a fine line, though, and I can't be completely sure of the reasons for going for these foods.
janice
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