Binge eating is a common activity done by many. Sad, stressed, or for whatever reason, people find comfort in food. Though the term “binge eating” may be a casually used term to describe something one might do to de-stress from a stressful day, there is another face to it. It shares a similar name to a mental illness called Binge Eating Disorder; however, both the latter and the former differ in many ways. As your medical staffing in Oklahoma, we differentiate the difference between the two in hopes to shed light and spread awareness on the truth of BED.

• Statistics and Demographics

  Out of all the mental illnesses, eating disorders have the highest mortality rate. In a national survey, it was found that 30 million people of all ages, income levels, races, and genders in the US suffer from an eating disorder. Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is known to be the most common eating disorder in America. It affects three times the number of people suffering from anorexia nervosa and bulimia combined and is most common in women.

• Factors, Issues, and Functional Consequences

  According to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder, a contributing factor to BED is genetic influences. BED is known to occur in similar frequencies among industrialized countries (i.e. United States, Australia, and many European countries). Consequences of BED include low life satisfaction, adjustment problems, medical and mortality morbidity, and obesity.

• Symptoms

  Binge Eating Disorder is diagnosed to a person when they have met at least three of the following symptoms:

  • eating rapidly than normal
  • eating until uncomfortably full
  • eating large amounts of food regardless of not feeling hungry
  • opts to eat alone fearing that they will be judged for how much they’re eating
  • having feelings of guilt and disgust after eating

  A BED episode is characterized by eating an amount that is more than an average person would eat in a discrete period of time, and having a lack of control during this episode.

• Treatment

  There is no uniform treatment plan when dealing with BED because it differs with what works for a person. Treatment is sure to include therapy–individual, group, or a combination of both–and may even include a prescription to take medication for depression. A nutritious diet and other healthy ways to get back to a tip-top shape and state of mind may also be done. Because the approach is required to be person-fit, it poses a great advantage on the part of the individual seeking treatment.

Network Medical Staffingunderstands this important journey to a healthy mind and body. As your medical staffing solutions in New York, we may have the staff of professionals you are looking for.