Eating disorders are complex psychological illnesses that cause severe disturbances in eating behavior. The result can be devastating medical consequences and even death. In fact, anorexia nervosa is the deadliest of any psychiatric illness. Anorexia Nervosa – persons with anorexia refuse to maintain a minimally normal body weight and have an intense fear of weight gain or becoming fat, even though they are underweight (DSM-IV, 1994). Bulimia Nervosa – persons with bulimia nervosa have repeated episodes of binge eating followed by inappropriate compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, fasting or excessive exercise (DSM-IV, 1994). Binge Eating Disorder – impulsive gorging, grazing, binging and/or continuous eating, not in response to physical hunger, accompanied by a sense of lack of control. Eating is driven by emotions rather than hunger.

In anorexia and bulimia, the individual uses behaviors to prevent weight gain, such as restricting food intake, vomiting, laxatives, or exercise. With BED, there is an absence of compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain after binging. The health consequences of BED are typically quite different than those of anorexia and bulimia. The health risks of BED are most commonly those associated with clinical obesity. Some of the potential health consequences of BED include: · High blood pressure · High cholesterol levels · Heart disease · Diabetes mellitus · Gallbladder disease Emotional Consequences of BED: · Increasing self-hate · Intense feelings of guilt and shame · Hypersensitivity to others’ perceptions · Mood swings · Feelings of worthlessness · Being a “people-pleaser”