New Binge Eating Program!

Mastering Balance: Positive Treatment for Binge and Night Eating

Binge-Eating Disorder

Binge eating disorder is characterized by uncontrollable, excessive eating, followed by feelings of shame and guilt. Unlike those with bulimia, those with binge-eating disorder typically do not purge their food. However, many who have bulimia also have binge-eating disorder.

About one in five young women report that they have had binge-eating problems, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Men account for about 40% of binge-eating disorder cases. Those with binge-eating disorder often feel shame and guilt about their conditions.

Medical Impact of Binge-Eating Disorder
Individuals with binge-eating disorder are often obese or overweight and are susceptible to health problems caused by being overweight, including high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol. Those who are obese increase their risk of heart diseases, many types of cancer and gallbladder disease. Like those with other eating disorders, people with binge-eating disorder often have other psychiatric illnesses and are especially susceptible to depression.

Signs of Binge-Eating Disorder
Those with binge-eating disorder typically are overweight or obese. They feel like they have no control over their behaviors, and eat in secret and when they are not hungry. They also feel shame and remorse over their behaviors. They may hide food. Excessive amounts of food containers and wrappers are also evidence of binging.

Other signs include:

• Eating in secret
• "Grazing" continuously without feeling satiated
• Eating when stressed or when feeling uncertain how to cope
• Feeling unable to control how much you eat
• Experimenting with different diets

Causes of Binge-Eating Disorder
While more research is needed before we understand the causes of binge eating and other eating disorders, we now know that several factors can lead to binge-eating disorder. While there is no single root cause, we believe that people with binge-eating disorder have a chemical imbalance in the brain that affects their behavior.

Genetics are also a major factor, as are cultural ideals about body image. A traumatic event, which may have taken place years before binge-eating disorder manifests itself, may also have an impact. Such events may include sexual abuse or rape, emotional abuse, parents' divorce, death of a loved one or a history of being teased or ridiculed.

Binge-eating disorder often starts with a diet, which may be meant to help the person regain self-esteem and control.

Treatment Program For Binge Eating Disorder
Walden’s Integrative Treatment Program for Binge and Night Eating is designed for adults, 18 years and older, who struggle with ongoing episodes of binge or night eating. Treatment focuses on facilitating program participants in significantly decreasing episodes of binge and night eating while building healthier lifestyles that support personal weight goals.

Treatment occurs in both group and individual formats and is structured to accommodate diverse personal and work schedules. The treatment components of the program include nutrition counseling and education, psychiatric consultation,exercise physiology, and an integration of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), interpersonal therapy (IT), and stress management techniques. Learn more.