Binge Eating Disorder (Awareness)

Emotional symptoms:

1-Feeling stress or tension that is only relieved by eating

2-Embarrassment over how much you're eating

3-Feeling numb while bingeing—like you're not really there or you're on auto-pilot.

4-Never feeling satisfied, no matter how much you eat

5-Feeling guilty, disgusted, or depressed after overeating

6-Desperation to control weight and eating habits

Factors that can increase your risk of developing binge-eating disorder include:

- Family history. You're much more likely to have an eating disorder if your parents or siblings have (or had) an eating disorder. This may indicate that inherited genes increase the risk of developing an eating disorder.

-Psychological issues. Most people who have binge-eating disorder feel negative about themselves and their skills and accomplishments. Triggers for bingeing can include stress, poor body self-image, food, and boredom.

-Dieting. Many people with binge-eating disorders have a history of dieting — some have dieted to excess dating back to childhood. Dieting or restricting calories during the day may trigger an urge to binge eat, especially if you have low self-esteem and symptoms of depression.

-Your age. Although people of any age can have binge-eating disorder, it often begins in the late teens or early 20s.

-Encourage him or her to seek help. The longer an eating disorder remains undiagnosed and untreated, the more difficult it will be to overcome, so urge your loved one to get treatment.

-Be supportive. Try to listen without judgment and make sure the person knows you care. If your loved one slips up on the road to recovery, remind them that it doesn't mean they can't quit binge eating for good.

-Avoid lectures or guilt trips. Binge eaters feel bad enough about themselves and their behavior already. Lecturing, getting upset, or issuing ultimatums to a binge eater will only increase stress and make the situation worse. Instead, make it clear that you care about the person's health and happiness and you'll continue to be there.

-Set a good example by eating healthily, exercising, and managing stress without food. Don t make negative comments about your own body or anyone else's.