Different Types of Binge Eating - Causes and Treatment

Of all the variety of symptoms that can accompany eating disorders, one that can be associated with several of them is the common pattern of binge eating. Whether the person restricts their food habits or not, certain mental or emotional triggers can make them begin eating excessively to the point of discomfort and sickness. There are different types of binge eating but often the episode of overeating is something that they lose control of and suffer negative consequences as a result of their behavior. The binges may occur at certain times and be more predictable such as with night eating disorder. This is a disorder in which, for whatever reason, the person feels unable to control their eating habits at night. It could happen because of insomnia or restrictive eating habits during the day. It is a type of binge eating that can affect a person's health and weight because of their uncontrolled eating.

The problems that contribute to compulsive overeating are not just the food itself; it is an obsession with food as an emotional escape from circumstances of life. For the people that eat large portions and snack often, they can admit to knowing that they eat not out of hunger but out of boredom, depression or just the taste of food. This can be a cycle that this difficult for them to really escape without professional help. They have become so dependent on food to ease their nerves and stress that they do not know how to function without it. They see food not as a source of survival but as something that they want all the time.

Whatever type of binge disorder a person might have, their need to binge is usually a kind of coping mechanism that helps them to escape from other problems. With eating disorders like bulimia, compulsive overeating or night eating disorder, it is not just a matter of an obsession with food; there are other psychological issues at hand that are not being addressed. Traumatic events of the past or problems with abuse can trigger any kind of eating disorder. In order to treat their binging problems the person with the disorder must think of the past and try to pinpoint when and why their issues with food began to occur. Once they understand exactly why they behave in this way then they might be more likely to think before they engage in binging behavior. The more time they spend facing their emotional problems head on instead of escaping through food they less they are going to binge eat.

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The Different Types of Eating Disorders

There are several types of eating disorders; each varies on the causes and effects, but all are synonymous in giving a negative effect to an individual's overall health. Eating disorder characterized as a series of abnormal eating, involving excessive or insufficient food intake that affects an individual's physical, emotional and psychological well- being. In the United States alone, large amounts of the population are affected with these three major types of eating disorder namely: Bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. These are the most common eating disorder affecting both males and females in the country. An estimated five to 10 million of females are affected and nearly 1 million of males are suffering in the country alone. Studies also proved that the risk for developing an eating problem is greatly higher in the Western part of the world, as compared to those in the other regions.

Individuals suffering from an eating disorder are normally in denial or not even aware of it. The problem normally revolves around self-image and on how an individual perceive a problem. Identifying the types of eating disorder can help in better understanding the steps needed to resolve it.

Bulimia nervosa: Characterized as the most common type of eating disorder, bulimics engage themselves in constant eating or purging with food in private, then resort to an inhumane way of getting rid of it through vomiting, taking laxatives or excessive exercise. The feeling of guilt comes into play after gorging with a small or large amount of food. Bulimics like all the other individuals with eating disorder are very secretive. They keep their disease in private because of embarrassment and low self-esteem. Individuals who engage in frequent dieting and show extreme concern with body weight and shape are also in great risk for this type of disorder.

Bulimia nervosa deals with self-image therefore making it harder to overcome. Proper treatment should be encouraged and strong environmental support is necessary to overcome this illness.

Anorexia nervosa: Characterized as a psychological disorder, Anorexia nervosa deals with individuals with an extreme concern about excessive weight or obesity and engages them in extreme dieting. The fear of gaining weight drives anorexics to eat less amount of food or drives them to the point of starvation and engages in extreme exercises to lose weight. As an effect, most anorexic suffers from severe health conditions and psychological problems, more likely similar to addiction. Studies suggest that causes of anorexia nervosa showed a genetic link. The part of the brain, hypothalamus in particular, plays a big role in developing anorexia nervosa. While other studies focus on the history of under eating in the early age. Individuals, who surrounded with an environment that defines "thinness" as beautiful, are those that are high risk of developing anorexia nervosa.

Binge eating disorder: Unlike any other types of eating issue, Binge eating disorder (BED) develops the greater chances of obesity or weight gain. An individual who over-eats constantly engage himself to bingeing in a short period even after a meal or feeling full. They eat voraciously until they feel the need to stop. The feeling of guilt and embarrassment will take place and will then put them in the state of depression. Depression and binge eating disorder goes hand and hand. Most individuals who develop binge eating disorder are those that are emotionally unhappy and those that are keeping negative feelings inside.

Females mostly adolescents, are the common victims of binge eating than males. Former studies proved that this is because female's struggles with pressures all at the same time, therefore making it hard for them move on and recover. As compared to males who find it easy to accept situations and move on.

All types of eating disorder bring negative effects to an individual's life. It is important to accept the situation and seek professional help to fight eating issues they you may have. Always remember that acceptance of the problem is the first step to recovery.

Kristin Gerstley is a former binge eater that now has a very healthy relationship with food. Since 2005, Kristin has helped thousands of people end binge eating  through her website:  http://www.endbingeeatingnow.com/.  You can also get free tips, information, and access Kristin's End Binge Eating Journal by joining her free newsletter.

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Three Different Faces of Gluten Intolerance

I often find people understand the gluten intolerance phenomenon less than they realize. I can appreciate how this happens: because a food element triggers the problems, people assume it is a food allergy, which is not accurate. They also may come to a gluten-free life as a result of cultural influence rather than medical need, which may mean their understanding is more social than medical.

In this introduction to gluten intolerance, I'll try to illuminate some important distinctions many people may not understand.

Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is a specific clinical diagnosis identified with a blood test and confirmed with a biopsy of the small intestine. It is a serious medical condition that can lead to other serious and even fatal illnesses (including cancer) if left unidentified and untreated.

When someone has celiac sprue disease, consuming any food with a trace of the protein composite gluten triggers his or her immune system to turn on itself and attack the lining of the small intestine. This triggers a domino-effect of symptoms and conditions resulting from both the inflammation and the malabsorption caused by this autoimmune response.

Just because "gluten doesn't agree with you" doesn't necessarily mean you have this frustrating condition, but the most common symptoms of celiac sprue disease are gastrointestinal problems, including gas, bloating, cramping, constipation and diarrhea.

If you think you might have celiac disease, it is important for you to visit with gastroenterologist experienced with diagnosing and treating this condition. To be honest, the term "intolerance" does not do justice to the severity of this disease.

Celiac disease is not a food allergy. Someone with a very serious case of celiac disease might be able to eat something dense with gluten and not experience any immediate symptoms (really!). But deep in this person's gut, an autoimmune reaction will be quietly wreaking havoc on their insides.

It is important you understand this distinction: celiac disease is not a type 1 hypersensitivity like an allergy.

Wheat Allergy

A wheat allergy is not celiac sprue disease: it is a real food allergy involving wheat (and not necessarily other grains in the triticeae family). A food allergy involves a type 1 hypersensitivity where the body produces histamine and other chemicals in response to a foreign body the immune system identifies as a harmful intruder.

In a food allergy, the immune system is over-reacting while it attacks a foreign particle; in celiac disease, the immune system is attacking cells or tissues of its own body.

This allergic response almost always occurs immediately or very soon after consuming wheat.

Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity

Non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) was only formally identified and accepted by recent medical research (although many of us have been sure it existed for years).

Basically, NCGS will be diagnosed when you test negative for both celiac disease and a wheat allergy, but a carefully monitored gluten elimination diet strongly indicates that gluten is triggering your health problems. NCGS often manifests with symptoms beyond the digestive tract, such as with migraines, joint pain and skin rashes. NCGS does not cause the same damage to the small intestine as celiac disease.

I hope this overview helps you better understand the different, overlapping conditions that may occur as a result of consuming gluten. In fact, there are others, like dermatitis herpetiformis and gluten ataxia, but most doctors will diagnose these as being a result of one of the above three conditions. However, in some rare cases they do manifest on their own.

This was just an introduction to a complex and serious matter. Discover clear, comprehensive and entirely free lessons on all matters relating to gluten intolerance at the Gluten Intolerance School:

http://glutenintoleranceschool.com/

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