Sixth Grade
Worksheets
Binge Eating Disorder
Perhaps you ate way too much turkey and stuffing at Thanksgiving. Maybe you had too many servings of ice cream and cake at your father's birthday party. Then you've experienced that incredible fullness that comes from overeating. Almost everyone experiences that feeling once in a while.
Sometimes teenagers (who are growing like crazy) are constantly in the refrigerator looking for something to eat. Almost every teenager has experienced that constant feeling of hunger once in a while, too.
A binge eating disorder appears to begin with these feelings, but it occurs a lot more than once in a while. Imagine eating all that turkey, stuffing, ice cream, and cake in secret a few times a week. Feeling completely out of control, a person with a binge eating disorder eats huge amounts of food rapidly on a regular basis.
It is estimated that around one to two million adult Americans have a binge eating disorder. The number is hard to completely confirm because many people are too embarrassed to seek help. It is more common in women. It is known that around two-thirds of people with the condition are females. This particular eating disorder is more common in those who are obese, although even those who are at a healthy weight can have it. Often times, many members of the same family suffer from it.
Many adults with a binge eating disorder say the problem began when they were children or teens. They often report that they felt angry, sad, bored, or anxious when they started. At first, the food felt soothing. Food offered comfort. Then eating all that food left them feeling guilty.
