Binge eating disorder has a significant impact on the physical, as well as the emotional, health of the person affected.
Health consequences may include
- Digestive problems such as bloating, stomach cramps, constipation or diarrhoea
- Malnutrition because of the quality of foods consumed (high in fats and sugars, but lacking in vitamins in minerals)
- Where significant weight gain occurs, related health consequences may include:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol levels
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Gallbladder disease
Most physical symptoms can be reversed with weight loss and normalisation of a balanced diet and eating habits.
Binge eating disorder is a serious mental health condition. Obesity is a weight classification – a symptom – which may occur as a result of binge eating disorder. While many of the health consequences associated with binge eating disorder are directly related to obesity, it is important to maintain a distinction between this symptom and the disorder itself.
