People who suffer from binge-eating disorder have three new chances to get better, thanks to the ever-expanding miracles of science! Find out more, below!
Do you know what America’s most common eating disorder is? No, it’s not anorexia, bulimia, or even orthorexia. In fact, chances are you haven’t yet heard of it. It’s common but maybe the least known. It’s called binge-eating disorder.
Now, people diagnosed with such a disorder have chances to get better. Three, to be more precise! There isn’t such a thing as a treatment for everyone, but combinations of the three. These findings were published at the end of June in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
What is a binge-eating disorder?
It’s a condition different from bulimia, as the afflicted person doesn’t feel the need to purge the excess food they have consumed. And it is more than casual overeating. The person’s eating habits are entirely out of control, and they feel ashamed, stressed, depressed, or disgusted by the quantity of food they ingest.
A binge-eating episode involves eating a significant amount of food within 1-2 hours, with no sense of control over what the person is doing, said Kimberly Brownley, an associate professor with the University of North Carolina Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders.
The binge-eating disorder affects about 3.5 percent of women and 2 percent of men in America, according to the U.S. National Institute of Health. Binge-eating was deemed an illness in 2013, by the American Psychiatric Association.
3 treatments for people who suffer from binge-eating disorder
Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps patients better understand their behavior and their impulse to eat, even if they’re not hungry. Understanding can make them change their negative patterns, according to Kimberly Brownley.
Another option is to take prescription drugs. Second-generation antidepressants such as Prozac, Zoloft, and Wellbutrin appear to help binge-eaters minimize their appetites.
There is also a new drug that can help people who suffer from binge-eating disorder. Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine) is currently the only drug approved by FDA for binge-eating disorder. These different forms of treatment don’t yet have a 100 percent success rate and the research on the topic is still ongoing.
All of the possible treatments above are recommended only under the supervision of a medical professional.
