Do you sometimes feel that your kids might eat you out of house
and home? It can feel like that at times, especially during the
teen years. They grab a handful of cookies here, a bag of chips
there, and finish last night's leftovers in a flash.
They're
growing
like weeds, of course, so you figure all that eating is OK. Most of
the time, it is.
But sometimes, heavy snacking isn't what it seems to be. If
kids eat unusually large amounts of food - and feel guilty or
secretive about it - they could be struggling with a common
eating disorder
called binge eating disorder.
About Binge Eating Disorder
Lots of people find comfort in food. After all, it's often
at the heart of our happiest celebrations. Birthdays can mean cake
with friends; Thanksgiving often means turkey and stuffing with
family. Most people will sometimes eat much more than they normally
do on special occasions.
But people with binge eating disorder have a different
relationship with food - they feel like they've lost all
control over how much they're eating, like they can't stop.
They also binge more frequently - at least twice a week for several
months.
For people with binge eating disorder, at first food may provide
feelings of calm or comfort, but later it can be the focus of
strong guilt and distress. A binge usually involves eating
unusually large amounts of food quickly and feel completely out of
control as they do it. These behaviors become a pattern of eating
and can alternate with dieting.
Binge eating disorder is more common in people who are
obese
, but it affects people with healthy weights as well. However,
there's little information on how many kids and teens are
affected because the condition has only recently been recognized,
and some may be too embarrassed to seek help for it.
And because most binge eating is done alone, even if their
kids may be gaining weight, parents might not be aware that
it's due to bingeing.
While most people with other eating disorders (like
anorexia and bulimia) are female, an estimated third of those with
binge eating disorder are male. Adults in treatment (including 2%
of adult Americans - roughly 1 million to 2 million people) often
say their problems started in childhood or adolescence.
Signs and Symptoms
Kids and teens who sometimes eat a lot don't necessarily
have binge eating disorder. Kids can have huge appetites,
especially during growth spurts, when they need more nutrients to
fuel their growing bodies. So it can be difficult to determine
whether a child has binge eating disorder. But several signs
distinguish someone who binge eats from someone with a
"healthy appetite."
Parents and other family members may first suspect a problem
when they notice large amounts of food missing from the pantry or
the refrigerator, though it's hard to imagine one child could
have eaten so much.
Other signs include:
- a child eating a lot of food quickly
- a pattern of eating in response to emotional stress, such as
family conflict, peer rejection, or poor academic
performance
- a child feeling ashamed or disgusted by the amount eaten
- finding food containers hidden in a child's room
- an increasingly irregular eating pattern, such as skipping
meals, eating lots of junk food, and eating at unusual times
(like late at night)
People who binge eat may also experience feelings that are
common to many eating disorders, such as
depression
,
anxiety
, guilt, or shame. They may avoid school, work, or socializing with
friends because they're ashamed of their binge eating problem
or changes in their body shape and weight.
Causes
The causes of binge eating disorder is unknown, although the
National Institutes of Health (NIH) report that up to half of all
people who have it also have a history of depression. It remains
unclear, however, whether binge eating brings on depression or
whether people with depression are prone to the disorder.
Many people who binge eat say that episodes can be triggered by
feelings of stress, anger, sadness, boredom, or anxiety. However,
even if someone feels better temporarily while eating, binge eating
is usually associated with feelings of distress. Most commonly,
after a binge a person will feel very guilty and bad about losing
control.
How It Differs From Other Eating Disorders
Binge eating disorder is slightly different from other eating
disorders.
People with
bulimia nervosa
(sometimes called binge-purge syndrome) binge on food and then
vomit or use laxatives to avoid gaining weight. They may also fast
(stop eating for a while) or
compulsively exercise
after an eating binge. Like people who suffer from binge eating
disorder, those with bulimia nervosa repeatedly eat excessive
amounts of food and feel guilty or ashamed about it. Unlike
bulimia, however, individuals with binge eating disorder do
not
purge and are, therefore, frequently overweight.
Anorexia nervosa
also involves feelings of guilt about eating. Whereas people with
binge eating disorder consistently overeat, people with anorexia
starve themselves, causing potentially life-threatening damage to
their bodies. They may also compulsively exercise to achieve weight
loss, a condition known as
anorexia athletica
.
Diagnosis
Doctors and mental health professionals use the criteria in the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV (DSM-IV) when they identify
binge eating disorder. These include:
- binge eating more food than most people could consume in
short periods of time
- a sense of lack of control over eating
- feelings of distress about eating behaviors
- binge eating that occurs, on average, at least 2 days a week
for 6 months
- the binges are not associated with regular purging with
laxatives or by vomiting or excessive exercise
- binge episodes associated with:
- eating more rapidly than usual
- eating until uncomfortably full
- eating when not hungry
- eating alone or in secret
- feelings of disgust, depression, or guilt
Treatment
A child will be diagnosed with a binge eating disorder only
after discussing the medical history, family history, patterns
of eating in the family, and emotional issues. The doctor will also
perform a complete physical and may order lab tests to assess some
complications of obesity and nutritional adequacy. As with any
eating disorder, it's also important that the child receives
psychological therapy for support and to help change unhealthy
behaviors.
Different types of therapy can help treat binge eating disorder.
For example, family therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy teach
people techniques to monitor and change their eating habits and the
way they respond to
stress
. Family therapy includes the whole family in the process of
helping the individual. Cognitive-behavioral therapy combines the
approach of helping people change self-defeating thoughts along
with changing their behavior. Counseling also helps patients look
at relationships they have with others and helps them work on areas
that cause them anxiety. In some cases, doctors may prescribe
medication to be used with therapy.
But there's no quick fix for any eating disorder. Treatment
can take several months or longer while the person learns how to
have a healthier approach to food. Although weight-control programs
are helpful for some people affected by binge eating disorder, kids
and teens should
not
begin a diet or weight-control program without the advice and
supervision of a doctor.
For some parents and family members, the long road to recovery
can be frustrating and expensive. Get support for yourself through
parents groups or by reading about the disorder so you can help
your child and your family get through this.
Risks and Complications
After months of overeating, many children and teens with binge
eating disorder are overweight. The most common health risks are
the same ones that accompany obesity, including
diabetes
,
high blood pressure
, high
cholesterol
levels, gallbladder disease, heart disease, some kinds of cancer,
and depression and anxiety.
Helping Your Child
If you suspect your child has a problem with binge eating, call
your doctor for advice and referrals to qualified mental health
professionals who have experience treating eating disorders in
kids.
Reassure your child that you're there to help or just to
listen. Having an eating disorder can be difficult to admit, and
your child may not be ready to acknowledge having a problem. You
can also encourage healthier eating habits by modeling your own
positive relationship with
food
and
exercise
and by not using food as a reward.
With the help of your family and supportive professionals, your
child can start eating healthy amounts of food and learn to manage
stress in ways that don't involve eating.
Reviewed by:
Michelle New, PhD
Date reviewed: October 2008
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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