Many of us have had the experience of over-eating to the point of abdominal pain. Just think about your last Thanksgiving feast: how many people pushed away from the table, groaning with discomfort, loosening their belts, unsnapping the waistband of their jeans? Occasional over-eating is not a clinical diagnosis, but more usually a sign of distracted eating, intense enjoyment of a particular meal, or a result of indulging in a special treat. Binge-Eating Disorder, however, is a serious eating disorder that can have life-threatening consequences.
PUTTING BED TO REST
Various treatment options exist for BED. Inpatient, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient and outpatient therapy modalities provide the appropriate level of care and oversight for clients’ differing needs. Besides counseling, the treatment team also includes a nutritionist, medical doctor and psychiatrist to help manage the client’s physical health. Obtaining a comprehensive evaluation from a certified physician or therapist specializing in eating disorders is essential to ensure the correct level of care is initiated, and to screen for other co-morbid diagnoses, including substance abuse, personality disorders, depression and anxiety. Like all eating disorders, recovery from BED can be a lifelong process. But early intervention and a commitment to the therapy process can provide BED sufferers with the skills and resilience to triumph over this complicated disease.