Binge eating is mostly associated with Bulimia but it is also a characteristic of other eating disorders such as Bulimarexia and Binge Eating Disorder. There are two definable types of binge’s, objective and subjective. Binge eating has often been associated with purging but not all binges are followed by a purge. It should be noted that vomiting is not the only means of purging; excessive exercising and the use of diet pills, diuretics, and laxatives are other methods of purging. Some may just use one of these methods and others use a combination of these.
Objective and Subjective Binge Eating
An objective binge consists of as much as 20,000 calories in one episode (which may last from minutes to many hours) or huge amounts of low calorie foods, such as 6 heads of lettuce with no fat butter. Binges generally have a function or serve a purpose such as procrastination, avoidance, or relieving anxiety and boredom. The binge is usually thought out and requires a block of time and privacy.
A subjective binge is the intake of normal foods in normal amounts that the individual feels uncomfortable eating. The person may feel uncomfortable because it contained a taboo such as fat, sugar or carbs. Or it may have been “healthy” but they ate too much. The most common reason for a purge is that the individual feels too full. Research shows that Bulimic’s and Bulimarxics are unusually sensitive to the sense of fullness.
Situational Binge Triggers:
Meal Preparation, a person with an eating disorder can often be triggered into a binge by preparing a meal, as they are preparing the food they will begin to nibble on the ingredients used to prepare the meal. The amount of food they consume during the preparation of the meal can be as much as the meal itself, the result is consuming twice as much food as intended. This may lead to purging, depending on the type of eating disorder.
Dining out with a Group, this is usually very difficult for a person with an eating disorder. The person with the eating disorder will usually consume an appropriate amount of “healthy” food while those around them are eating “taboo” foods. This often angers the person with the eating disorder and can lead the person to binge on those “taboo” foods when they get home in private.
DID YOU KNOW?
According to Dr. Norton’s online survey, in which over 130 people responded, over half of those that binge often find themselves fantasizing about foods to binge on while grocery shopping.
Occurrence by Eating Disorder
* Bulimarexia – 57.1%
* Bulimia – 53.3%
* Emotional Eaters – 53.3%
BULIMAREXIA – An eating disorder that has the characteristics of both Anorexia and Bulimia. The person affected by this disorder will cycle between the restricting habits that are associated with Anorexia and the binging and purging characteristics of Bulimia. This eating disorder is very dangerous and is physically and emotionally damaging.
After reviewing the data from Dr. Norton’s online survey we found that Bulimarexia had the largest population of those who took the survey.
*38% identified themselves as having Bulimarexia
*25% identified themselves as having Anorexia
*12.5% identified themselves as having Bulimia
*10.8% identified themselves as Emotional Eaters
*13.3% identified themselves as Obese
Why Bulimarexia Is So Dangerous
1. The fact that it is not a recognized diagnosis yet so many people suffer from it causes a serious problem for the therapist/physician and creates a serious gap in treatment.
2. The cycle of binging and restricting is very dangerous and can cause many serious health problems such as decreased bone density, loss of menses (difficulty conceiving), tooth decay and kidney damage just to name a few.
3. Bulimarexia often goes undetected or thought of as “just a phase”. For example a parent might notice their child’s decreased food intake and some weight loss but just as they start to take notice of this the child cycle’s into the binging component of this disorder. The parent is relieved to see their child eating again and their previous concerns are dismissed.
Adam Yust | Roos Tribute | EDP Web