Does everyone binge?
Bingeing seems like such a dirty word...but according to a recent study out of Harvard University–affiliated McLean Psychiatric Hospital, Binge Eating Disorder, or BED, is America’s most common eating disorder...more common than anorexia and bulimia combined. I know this because I had the privilege of writing a very unique, heartrending story for Health Magazine on the subject, which is just now out, entitled "Our Dirty Little Secret? We Can’t Stop Bingeing."
I interviewed many brave, outspoken women from around the country who decided they no longer wanted to hide, that they would serve as ambassadors for the millions of other women (and men) in the U.S. who struggle with this eating disorder, using it as a coping mechanism to manage their emotions. BED can be much more devastating than simply plowing through a pint of ice cream while mindlessly watching late-night TV or, as I recently wrote about, not being able to control oneself with a bulk size container of chocolate-covered raisins in the house. But they all fall on a spectrum where food and emotions blur together in a muddy rainbow. Hopefully you'll go pick up the magazine, learn more about this disease and if you need help, you can tap into some of the resources listed at the end of the article. Let's clean up that rainbow, make it bright and feel the warmth that can accompany a life free from emotional eating.
I hope everyone here has a wonderful, relaxing weekend. Feel free to drop in and share any stories or feedback you may have to this post - it's a hot topic and hearing about the experiences of other women is always helpful.
xoxoxo
Leslie
Comments
Nice indepth and informative article. I never realized how common a practice this is. I suppose because you can't really see it, can you? What I mean is if you're anorexic or obese, people can see it, but if you're bingeing, it's easier to hide it because you can be at at alright weight for your body and yet be a binger. Thanks for sharing, Leslie.
Ok, I am a pill popper. Since i was young. Now I am a good girl, but I love pills. Vitamins, sleeping, muscle, pain.
Not all the time. Just when I am vulnerable.
ADVICE???????????????????
I had several eating disorder (boulemia, anorexia, binging...) since i was young and i have to say, without blaming anyone, that i didn't have the best example aroung me, in my family. Being a teenager, didn't really help, but after this long track of trying to understand who i was, i decided to fight against the problem that i have and for what i desire most, not to only stop focusing on food so much anymore, like if it was the last pleasure on earth. Sometime, i fail and it feels almost good to get some confort with some quick munchies, but the other times, i feel ten times better, discovering new ways of making myself happy.
I have no advice but i wish to everyone who might go through this path that, avoiding the binging once, is always good, twice is better, just think of it once at a time...
I am a 20-year-old college student involved in a sorority. Although I am on the low end of normal weight for my small frame and height, I engage in binge eating frequently (followed by intense sessions at the gym) and was never able to identify my over-eating or subsequent feelings of guilt until now. I have brought up my concerns about my eating habits to friends before, who simply tell me, "Stop complaining. You're skinny. You can eat whatever you want. Don't worry about it." etc. I hope iVillage will continue to work to raise awareness of this problem. Thank you from my heart for your eye-opening article.
Katie,
I, too, was in a sorority in college and know the pressures of living amongst many other young women (I'm not saying this to negate the oodles of positive aspects that come with joining a house, I'm just saying...) When I had an ED, I also was told by other people things like "Oh, you can eat whatever you want, you should go eat some pizza, etc." This represents a fundamental misunderstanding of any eating disorder, in that binge eating, anorexia, bulimia or exercise bulimia are NOT ABOUT FOOD! (Which I'm sure you understand). I am so glad that you've been able to identify your problem and I hope there are opportunities at your school to seek help. Maybe you can try talking to a trusted professor/mentor; the president of your house; a parent of a close friend of yours or a relative you trust. There are definitely places to get help. Hopefully, by recognizing the problem now, you have a headstart on healing yourself so you can enjoy all that college has to offer. I wish you luck...
Love,
Leslie
And to PJOOL, I don't have the medical background to advise you on pill dependency, only to say that you've clearly taken the first step by realizing your need help - you reached out here. I'm not sure if you have asked for help elsewhere, but I'm hoping. Maybe some fellow readers who have dealt with chemical dependency can offer their advice; otherwise, I would strongly urge you to talk with your doctor or, if you don't feel comfortable with that, perhaps there is a local AA or Narcotics Anonymous that you can contact and they can guide you. I'll be thinking of you,
L
Thank you so much for this post, Leslie. I think most women - at some point in their lives - have engaged in a form of binge something (whether that be eating, exercising, working, etc,). There have definitely been times in my life when I couldn't put down a certain food (kind of like the chocolate covered raisins).
I cannot wait to get a copy of Health Magazine.
As far as eating disorders are concerned, it'susually wither anoraxia or bulimia. That's why it was cool to read about binging which would be my eating disorder. It seems like I would do it on about anything. I would eat helthy but in large portions. It got so bad that I had to stop buying things in large quantities like in bulk. Even a box of cereal or a jar of peanut butter was out of the questions because I couldn't control the amount that I ate. I'd sit in front of the tv and before i knew it, more than half of the contents were gone. Other times I felt myself stuffing my face as if I hadn't eaten in days. It's a proccess that's taken more than a year to overcome cause there's always new temptations rearing thier heads around the corner. But acknowledging it helps to start the process of healing.
well i am 23,and have 2 kids.i am trying to lose weight but cant stop doig this.my husband is in iraq and i dont want to worry him but now it has gotten to the point were i dont care about over eating cuz i know i can just trow it up.any advice would help.
I'm glad Health Magazine decided to run a story on binge eating and I was happy to be a part of it. I hope that it is the beginning to educating many people on the very common, but not so talked about subject of binge eating.
Hi Leslie,
Love your support. I am 5'6 and a half, and weigh 170 pounds and I'm a television host for the Discovery Home Channel show, "Garden Police." I felt pressure to be thin when I started on television, but I am very comfortable with my size. I recently lost 10 lbs (doctor's orders) to alleviate high blood pressure conditions and am planning to lose another 10 lbs. In any case, at my goal, I will weigh more than most women my height (160 lbs.) and that is totally fine with me!
I've come to appeciate having a strong body with muscles instead of being skin and bones. It feels great to be eating healthfully and excersizing. That is what matters, not scale numbers. Take a look at my blog, where I post a before and after photo of me at 180 and then 170 pounds. I say, "not bad!"
www.EdenMakersblog.com
Shirley Bovshow
www.ShirleyBovshow.com
Hi. I was a big time binge eater from about 12 on up until I was 22 or so. I was barely conscious of it, but I did it every time I had a fight with someone close to me, automatically opened the fridge and started looking for something to eat. I could binge on whole wheat bread, carrots, a carton of ice cream, celery, name it. It wasn't necessarily junk food, it was anything! I could eat and eat and eat, not feeling hungry at all, never feeling full, stuffing myself, and I did this so often I would hardly ever have a momemt where my brain could recognize actual hunger pangs.... I stopped eating like this rather suddenly, am turning 26 in June, and haven't done it since I was about 23. I've literally not done it since. My weight could range from 140 to 175 (I'm 5 feet 10 and medium framed, am 160 now and that is normal).... Thank God that is over.
Wow - Shirley, thanks so much for your inspirational post and those fabulous photos. You really did make quite a transition! Glad you found a plan that works for you. And Kristen, thank you once again for your strength and honesty in helping me in writing the Health Magazine article - you've clearly already impacted many women. For those of you looking for help, I urge you seek counsel at a reputable site such as
http://www.anad.org/site/anadweb/
http://www.stopcompulsiveeating.com/
http://www.something-fishy.org/treatmentfinder/pmd_new/
and learn more about Kristen's personal journey at http://www.endbingeeating.com/
I couldn't help but notice you also contributed an article to Women's Health this month... and I don't think I have to tell you which was more fun to read! :)
Nikki-you caught me!!! At least nobody can accuse me of being limited in scope, right? ;-)
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