What is Binge Eating?

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  • Binge eating is characterized by:– eating rapidly– eating more than was intended– eating alone– feelings of disgust, guilt, or depression secondary to these binges About 3.5% of adult women and 2% of adult men within the U. S.,population suffer from binge eating disorder.– Slightly lower for adolescents (2.3% females, 0.8% males) Unlike obesity and binge eating behaviors, there are currently not any goodestimates of the overall level of food addictions in the population. Methods to approximate the prevalence of food addiction are currently underway.References

    1. Wandler K. Eating disorders and substance use: be aware of this dual diagnosis. Behavioral healthcare tomorrow. Dec. 2003; 12(6), 8-11.
    1. Gold MS. Eating disorders, overeating, and pathological attachment to food: independent or addictive disorders? J Addict Dis. 2004; 23(3), 1-3.
    1. Smith DG, Robbins TW. The Neurobiological Underpinnings of Obesity and Binge Eating: A Rationale for Adopting the Food Addiction Model. Biol Psychiatry. Oct 22 2012.
    Uncontrollable Eating at One Time
    Uncontrollable Eating at One Time