The History of Binge-Eating Disorders

Binge-eating disorder, or BED, is classified as a psychiatric disorder in which the person uncontrollably eats large amounts of food. These episodes, referred to as binging, have the following characteristics: quick pace of eating (in comparison with normal periods of eating), eating during certain moods (boredom or depression), occurrence when the person is alone, and eating even when the person is not hungry. A feeling of disgust or guilt usually follows binging.

Bulimia: Ancient Times

Bulimia is often described as a variation of BED. Bulimia stretches as far back as the times of the ancient Egyptians, who purged themselves every month for three days in succession. They believed that food was the agent of human diseases (Physicians in Middle-Ages Europe also held the same belief). Inhabitants in ancient Greece and Arabia produced texts that include descriptions of binging and purging.

In ancient Rome, people constructed "vomitoriums," places where feasters can throw up food. Roman Emperors Claudius (10 B.C. to A.D. 54) and Vitellius (A.D. 15 to 69) were bulimic.

Bulimia: Official Classification

However, it was not until 1979 that British psychiatrist Gerald Russell officially described bulimia, giving it its present medical term: bulimia nervosa. This was the result of his work with patients between 1972 and 1978. It should be noted that bulimia, as it is known now, is not the same of yesteryear. There is no evidence in ancient practices that binging and purging were done in the drive to cut down weight---a trait that featured prominently in Russell's observations.

Bulimia and BED: Differences

Although bulimia and BED are similar in that the sufferer must binge at least twice per week during a three-month period, people with BED do not purge or fast like bulimics do. Also, while bulimics tend to vary in weight, people suffering with BED tend to be overweight or obese.

Anorexia: A Binge-Eating Disorder?

Anorexia nervosa---first described in 1684, then identified and described with its diagnosis in 1870---is often confused as a binge-eating disorder, but it is not. That is because anorexics do not binge; rather they experience a "nervous" loss of appetite that severely restricts their food intake. However, it is a type of eating disorder.

Health Concerns

BED is very harmful. In addition to contributing to obesity, it increases the risk of contracting diabetes, heart disease, stroke and hypertension.

References

• A Brief History of Eating Disorders
• History of Bulimia and How It Evolved Into a New Problem
• Sells, Sara. "Binge Eating Disorder: Surprisingly Common, Seriously Undertreated"

Resources

• Weight-Control Information Network
• National Mental Health Information Center
• The History of Anorexia Nervosa and Other Eating Disorders