Binge/Fast -- ??

Is binging and then fasting (as in eating nothing to very little) considered bulimia or binge eating disorder?

(My sister's been struggling with this for months and I don't know what to do!! I'm a little scared)

Replies

  • PercivalHackworth
    PercivalHackworth Posts: 1,437 Member
    Definitely ED
  • prism6
    prism6 Posts: 484 Member
    well, it probably isn't healthy
  • laura657
    laura657 Posts: 21
    Definitely ED

    I know, but I was wondering what kind? I guess it's not that important, just curious. My sister has been doing this for months......
  • chuckles217
    chuckles217 Posts: 123 Member
    Its considered Restrictive Binge Disorder according the DSM-IV Psychologist manual.
    It is an eating disorder and should be treated.

    Difference with bulimia is it is a specific binge disorder with forced regurgitation.
  • laura657
    laura657 Posts: 21
    Its considered Restrictive Binge Disorder according the DSM-IV Psychologist manual.
    It is an eating disorder and should be treated.

    Difference with bulimia is it is a specific binge disorder with forced regurgitation.


    OK, thank you! There are so many it's confusing
  • laura657
    laura657 Posts: 21
    Its considered Restrictive Binge Disorder according the DSM-IV Psychologist manual.
    It is an eating disorder and should be treated.

    Difference with bulimia is it is a specific binge disorder with forced regurgitation.


    OK, thank you! There are so many it's confusing

    I actually didn't even realize there was such a thing as Restrictive Binge Disorder...
  • mamitosami
    mamitosami Posts: 531 Member
    Are you talking about a true binge? Like, unadulterated, out of control eating? Or just eating a lot in a small amount of time to overcome an upcoming fasting period? What IF'ers do may seem like bingeing to some (some people eat between 2000 and 4000, or more calories in a very short span of time).

    You know what a binge is and if you are bingeing truly, then perhaps it is an unhealthy cycle. Stay away from IF'ing.

    Must have posted at the same time as the above poster... looks like they know what they are talking about... disregard what I've said.
  • laura657
    laura657 Posts: 21
    Are you talking about a true binge? Like, unadulterated, out of control eating? Or just eating a lot in a small amount of time to overcome an upcoming fasting period? What IF'ers do may seem like bingeing to some (some people eat between 2000 and 4000, or more calories in a very short span of time).

    You know what a binge is and if you are bingeing truly, then perhaps it is an unhealthy cycle. Stay away from IF'ing.


    She usually eats 1500 cals in one sitting ---at least that's what she says. Is a binge anything over 1000 cals at once? I'm not sure. Yeah, I know it's unhealthy, I just don't know how to help her.
  • chuckles217
    chuckles217 Posts: 123 Member
    Its considered Restrictive Binge Disorder according the DSM-IV Psychologist manual.
    It is an eating disorder and should be treated.

    Difference with bulimia is it is a specific binge disorder with forced regurgitation.


    OK, thank you! There are so many it's confusing


    Yes there is, its characterized by periods of severe binging followed by times of restriction. Theres a lot of psychology behind it but generally boils down to emotionally triggered eating followed by self-prescribed punishment of restriction.

    I actually didn't even realize there was such a thing as Restrictive Binge Disorder...
  • Nopedotjpeg
    Nopedotjpeg Posts: 1,805 Member
    It's the textbook definition of bulimia.
  • laura657
    laura657 Posts: 21
    It's the textbook definition of bulimia.

    I thought bulimia was binging followed by vomiting or over exercise or laxatives.
  • laura657
    laura657 Posts: 21
    Its considered Restrictive Binge Disorder according the DSM-IV Psychologist manual.
    It is an eating disorder and should be treated.

    Difference with bulimia is it is a specific binge disorder with forced regurgitation.


    OK, thank you! There are so many it's confusing


    Yes there is, its characterized by periods of severe binging followed by times of restriction. Theres a lot of psychology behind it but generally boils down to emotionally triggered eating followed by self-prescribed punishment of restriction.

    I actually didn't even realize there was such a thing as Restrictive Binge Disorder...


    Makes sense. Thank you, very helpful. Do you happen to know about any treatment/help available for this?
  • mfpcopine
    mfpcopine Posts: 3,093 Member
    I don't know, but I doubt that a binge is defined in terms of calorie intake. I assume it's a continued tendency to consume food far beyond satiety and nutritional needs.
  • Nopedotjpeg
    Nopedotjpeg Posts: 1,805 Member
    It's the textbook definition of bulimia.

    I thought bulimia was binging followed by vomiting or over exercise or laxatives.

    It's binging followed by purging. Fasting can be a type of purging iirc.
  • laura657
    laura657 Posts: 21
    It's the textbook definition of bulimia.

    I thought bulimia was binging followed by vomiting or over exercise or laxatives.

    It's binging followed by purging. Fasting can be a type of purging iirc.


    Hmmm...OK. It seems like there's a lot of overlap with these disorders.
  • PercivalHackworth
    PercivalHackworth Posts: 1,437 Member
    Yah, if it'a a well set routine : medical support + psych.
    If it's something that comes in occasion, while the health is good, a psych

    BUT - act, before it's getting worse (starts like this and then it's a real hell)
  • mfpcopine
    mfpcopine Posts: 3,093 Member
    In Intermittent Fasting, you're not supposed to eat for the sake of eating. If you're doing a "window" method, you eat what is usually a larger-than-average meal because you are eating at other times of the day. But I thought you were supposed to stop once you're no longer hungry.

    I would never confuse IF with bingeing.
  • mamitosami
    mamitosami Posts: 531 Member
    I hate to say it, but 1500 calories isn't very much. To some whose calories are only 1500 per day it may seem like a lot, but a binge, in my opinion (and I am NO doctor) is upwards of 3000-4000 calories (and again, some of the people on here eat like that intentionally). If your sister is practicing IF then it seems outwardly that she is bingeing. You would benefit from reading about IF and about the disorder that people are referring to on here.

    FWIW-- I eat about 1800-2800 (depending on the exercise I do, how hungry I am, or a 'spike' day) in a 4 hour window of time. I'm tall, 5'11" and exercise 6 days a week (sometimes 7), so I eat a lot.
  • honestlysweet
    honestlysweet Posts: 221 Member
    It's not bulimia. Bulimia is when you make yourself thrown up after eating. It doesn't sound like any kind of real E.D. to me. Many people do this. As long as she is getting proper nutrition overall, like on average, then I wouldn't worry about it.
  • honestlysweet
    honestlysweet Posts: 221 Member
    It's the textbook definition of bulimia.

    It's not bulimia at all.
  • Nopedotjpeg
    Nopedotjpeg Posts: 1,805 Member
    It's the textbook definition of bulimia.

    It's not bulimia at all.

    And I'll quote the DSM here:

    A.
    (1) eating, in a discrete period of time (e.g. within any 2 hour period), and amount of food that is definitely larger than most people would eat during a similar period of time and under similar circumstances
    (2) a sense of lack of control over eating during the episode (e.g. a feeling that one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating)

    B. Recurrent inappropriate compensatory behaviour in order to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting; misuse of laxatives, diuretics, enemas or other medications; fasting; or excessive exercise.

    C. The binge eating and inappropriate compensatory behaviours both occur, on average, at least twice a week for 3 months.

    D. Self-evaluation is unduly influenced by body shape and weight.

    E. The disturbance does not occur exclusively during episodes of Anorexia Nervosa.

    Specify type:

    Purging Type: During the current episode of Bulimia Nervosa, the person has regularly engaged in self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics or enemas.

    Non-purging Type: During the current episode of Bulimia Nervosa, the person has used other inappropriate compensatory behaviours, such as fasting or excessive exercise, but has not regularly engaged in self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics or enemas.

    You don't need to vomit for it to be bulimia. This is all semantics though. It's a disordered relationship with food that you should work on finding out the root cause of. I'd talk to a therapist or psychiatrist about it if you have the means to do so.
  • mischa_12
    mischa_12 Posts: 126 Member
    I don't know if this is kind of the same thing but sometimes I have a complete binge of 2000 calories or more in one sitting and then sometimes I feel so guilty about it that I feel the need to throw up, then days follow that where I try to eat as little as possible - it isn't a constant thing though, my binge eating isn't as bad as it used to be.

    I just know how it feels when you've got this massive guilt and you think the only was to make up for it is to throw up - I know this is a very unhealthy relationship with food and I'm trying to get better.
  • hollieepps
    hollieepps Posts: 9 Member
    I think its refered to as Anorexia binge-purge subtype where they like food mainly control what they eat well (through anorexia) but then have a binge and have to purge.
  • laura657
    laura657 Posts: 21
    It's the textbook definition of bulimia.

    It's not bulimia at all.

    And I'll quote the DSM here:

    A.
    (1) eating, in a discrete period of time (e.g. within any 2 hour period), and amount of food that is definitely larger than most people would eat during a similar period of time and under similar circumstances
    (2) a sense of lack of control over eating during the episode (e.g. a feeling that one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating)

    B. Recurrent inappropriate compensatory behaviour in order to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting; misuse of laxatives, diuretics, enemas or other medications; fasting; or excessive exercise.

    C. The binge eating and inappropriate compensatory behaviours both occur, on average, at least twice a week for 3 months.

    D. Self-evaluation is unduly influenced by body shape and weight.

    E. The disturbance does not occur exclusively during episodes of Anorexia Nervosa.

    Specify type:

    Purging Type: During the current episode of Bulimia Nervosa, the person has regularly engaged in self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics or enemas.

    Non-purging Type: During the current episode of Bulimia Nervosa, the person has used other inappropriate compensatory behaviours, such as fasting or excessive exercise, but has not regularly engaged in self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics or enemas.

    You don't need to vomit for it to be bulimia. This is all semantics though. It's a disordered relationship with food that you should work on finding out the root cause of. I'd talk to a therapist or psychiatrist about it if you have the means to do so.



    Yeah, I guess it doesn't really matter what it's called......
  • laura657
    laura657 Posts: 21
    OK, well thank you all for your input! I appreciate it!
  • jesusHchris
    jesusHchris Posts: 1,405 Member
    She usually eats 1500 cals in one sitting ---at least that's what she says. Is a binge anything over 1000 cals at once? I'm not sure. Yeah, I know it's unhealthy, I just don't know how to help her.

    The average item on the menu at Denny's is around 1,000 to 1,500 calories. Not saying that is healthy, but it sure as hell doesn't qualify everyone who occasionally goes there as having an eating disorder. Even if they feel guilty after and don't eat all day. That's just plain old uneducated and lousy nutrition, which is par for the course in America.

    To be completely sure, I would have to know if she was hot.

    /notadoctor