man eating food needing binge eating disorder treatment

Many people, particularly young adults, have complicated relationships with food. Unlike alcohol or other drugs, a person can’t make a choice to abstain from putting food into their body.

Although many of us are familiar with anorexia and bulimia, binge eating disorder (BED) actually occurs more frequently. Although binge eating disorder is life-threatening, it can be successfully addressed at a binge eating disorder treatment center.

What is Binge Eating Disorder?

In order for someone to receive a diagnosis of a binge eating disorder, they must meet the following criteria:

  • Recurring episodes of eating larger than normal amounts of food in a discrete period of time accompanied by a feeling of being unable to stop eating
  • Three or more of the following: Eating rapidly, eating until uncomfortably full, consuming large portions of food when not hungry, eating alone out of embarrassment, shame, guilt or regret when the episode ends

Unlike bulimia, BED does not include purging after binge eating. Although many people who suffer from BED are preoccupied with their weight and how their body shape appears, they don’t have bulimia or anorexia and don’t need an anorexia treatment center specifically. Instead, they would benefit from an eating disorder treatment center with experts who can focus on the unique challenges that BED presents.

Warning Signs of BED

How do you know if you or someone you care about has BED and needs help from a binge eating disorder treatment center? The following signs and symptoms can provide you with some useful guidelines:

  • Changes in eating patterns or behaviors including diets, fluctuating weight, secretiveness around eating, stealing food or consuming large amounts
  • Develops rituals around food (eating only at certain times or only specific food groups)
  • Guilt, embarrassment, and shame after eating
  • Physical symptoms including weight changes, stomach cramps, constipation, and other intestinal problems
  • Inability to concentrate

One of the most compelling reasons to seek help from a binge eating disorder treatment center is that people with BED tend to suffer from many of the physical problems that come with obesity although not everyone with BED is necessarily severely overweight.

How the Binge Eating Disorder Treatment Center Can Help

Red Oak Recovery is one of the most successful young adult rehab programs in the United States. We recognize that BED is as difficult to overcome as are substance uses, such as addictions to drugs and alcohol. All of these problems leave clients feeling a loss of control over their lives and behaviors. We also recognize that young people between the ages of 18 and 30 are contending with their own unique set of challenges.

These challenges only grow as they enter into the responsibilities and expectations of adulthood. That is why we have designed Red Oak Recovery to cater specifically to young adults with substance, mental health, and eating disorder issues. Our campuses are located in beautiful Asheville, North Carolina, and are designed to promote the holistic healing of the entire person.

Red Oak Recovery

If you or someone you care about has BED, you probably already know the toll it takes. In addition to the physical changes, someone with BED has low self-esteem and may also use alcohol or other drugs. At Red Oak Recovery, we are committed to addressing the disorder at its roots in several ways. Our services include a combination of the following:

  • A thorough evaluation of physical, psychological, nutritional, and substance use history
  • Fully accredited, masters-level staff
  • Participation in individual counseling
  • A unique, wilderness-based adventure program to build confidence, enhance physical health and promote healthy problem-solving and teamwork
  • Gender-specific programming
  • Ongoing alumni and family groups for continued peer support after completing the program

Not every binge eating disorder treatment center provides the comprehensive programs that clients need for recovery. If you or someone you care about needs our help, call us today at 866.457.7590 to learn more about Red Oak Recovery.