Binge Eating Disorder Complications - OmniMedicalSearch.com

Conditions & Diseases: Eating & Weight Disorders

Binge Eating Disorder

Binge-Eating Disorder Complications

Suffering from an eating problem such binge eating disorder is an upsetting and distressing experience that significantly reduces one's quality of life. Individuals affected by the disorder not only experience psychological and emotional pain but their entire life is negatively affected from their health, social life, to the financial costs related to suffering from binge eating disorder.

Although not all the individuals affected by binge eating disorder are overweight or obese, most of the health issues associated with binge eating are related to obesity. Even if the person is having a normal weight but their eating disorder is not addressed and treated, their compulsive overeating will lead to obesity. Binge eating episodes involve consuming a high amount of food rich in calories that the body won't be able to be burn off. This causes the individual to progressively gains weight. Obesity is one of the most predominant and troubling health problem in the US that carries with it a wide range of heath complications. Some of the most common health conditions associated and linked to obesity include: type 2 diabetes, different forms of cancer, heart conditions, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, gallbladder disease, join and muscle pain, sleep apnea, gastrointestinal problems, osteoarthritis.

Although individuals suffering from binge eating consume high amounts of food, their diet is rich in carbohydrates and fat rather than vitamins, protein and nutrients needed by the body in order to function properly, so these individuals might become malnourished. In addition to lacking major nutrients, the body of an overweight or obese individual lacks exercise. Individuals with binge eating disorder can experience embarrassment due to their body appearance and size and feel reluctant to exercise in public or go to a gym or simply don't exercise because they feel comfortable with a sedentary lifestyle, where food became the universal panacea for their inner void, boredom, loneliness, or distress.

Binge eating disorder is also linked to behavioral and psychological/emotional problems. Individuals with this disorder suffer from depression, anxiety or even panic disorder. Many report being angry, sad, bored, worried or stress, ashamed, having suicidal thoughts, trouble sleeping, and feeling like they are not in charge of themselves. Many individuals with binge eating disorder become addicted to alcohol or drugs, may exhibit aggressive behavior (acting quickly before actually thinking of the consequences or implications), and have difficulties coping with stress and problems.

Unfortunately, binge eating disorder has negative consequences in the social life of the individual. Due to their weight, some of the individuals with binge eating disorder isolate themselves in the comfort of their home and their dysfunctional eating habits away from the eyes of others. When the person is too heavy, they are constrained in their home either because their weight does not allow them to move or because public transportation (buses, airplanes) or a personal vehicle is not equipped with seats or room that can accommodate their weight. Some jobs have weight limits which reduces the number of options for these individuals to provide for themselves and stay active.

Being overweight or obese is also financially challenging with high costs that include the cost of food, special size clothes, special amenities, and medical care. Individuals with binge eating disorder buy big amounts of food in order to support their binge eating episodes. Due to their size, they need special size clothes that might need purchased from special stores. Some need to accommodate the home to their needs with special furniture and amenities.

Article by Alina Morrow
MS Psychology
Medical Writer
OmniMedicalSearch.com