Out of Control: A True Story of Binge Eating

According to this article in the NY Times, binge eating has become the most popular and common form of eating disorder consuming 1 out of 35 adults. It is almost twice the combined rate as other eating disorders such as anorexia. binge eating is characterized by compulsive over eating in which people consume huge amounts of food while feeling out of control and powerless to stop. A binge eating episode usually lasts up to 2 hours. Binge eaters often eat when they are not hungry and continue to eat long after they are full. Most binge eaters struggle with having feelings of guilt, disgust, and depression. They often worry about what the compulsive eating will do to their body and beat themselves up for having a lack of self control. Most want to stop this habit, but feel as though they can't. This article talks about one's own personal struggle with binge eating and how it began to take over their life. This person discovered that they had a problem, and thankfully reached out for help. Binge eating usually occurs begins in late adolescence or early adulthood. This is a serious disease and i find it astonishing how it can consume one's whole life. I actually lived and experienced this disease first hand when I lived with a girl struggling with bulimia and binge eating. The disease consumed her. She began to obsess over everything she ate, began to steal my food and lie about taking it, and began to make up outrageous stories about why food had gone missing. She blamed her obsessive eating on "monsters" in her head that were telling her what to do. I tried countless times to get her help and to get her to see someone but she never would. This in turn ruined our friendship. It is a very serious disease and should not be taken lightly. I strongly advise anyone with any kind of eating disorder to seek help immediately.