Eating disorders are surprisingly common in the western world. It is usually females who are affected, but not exclusively- around 5% of cases occur in men. Eating disorders affect women of any age, but are especially prevalent amongst girls in their teens and twenties. At this age, many young women are influenced by 'peer pressure' and images of glamorous (and extremely thin) celebrities. They aspire to be thin just like these role models, and embark on a drastic diet. The danger is that dieting can become extremely addictive, and this is when an eating disorder can pose a threat.

In common with anorexics, bulimia sufferers have a real fear of becoming fat. To control this, bulimics indulge in binge-eating sessions, often in secret, followed by a sense of self-loathing. This is followed by purging - self-induced vomiting and/or using laxatives or diuretics to help them maintain what they see as an 'acceptable' weight. The main difference between anorexia and bulimia is that bulimia sufferers often remain in the normal weight range for their height.

If you are worried you may have developed bulimia, or you are concerned about someone you know, it is important that you seek medical help - over the long term, bulimia can cause serious health problems such as heart damage and infertility.

Fighting bulimia takes courage and perseverance, and is never easy. Treatments are varied, according to the individual and their circumstances. What is known is that these certain personality traits are common in sufferers:

- Low self-esteem
- Depression and mood swings
- Obsessive behavior

For sufferers, admitting they have a problem is the first (and hardest) step in regaining control and fighting back against the bulimia. The first point of contact for seeking treatment should be your family doctor; they will give you a physical exam and decide on the appropriate course of treatment.

The earlier a person seeks help, the easier it is to successfully treat them. For these bulimics, treatment may consist of a self-help manual with occasional help from a therapist. Other treatments include:

Eating a healthy diet - keeping a diary of everything they eat and learning about healthy eating and sensible weight control may benefit some people.

Prescribed short-term antidepressants such as Prozac. Antidepressants have been proven to reduce binging and purging, probably due to the fact that a sufferer's mood is lifted.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is known to be an effective treatment for bulimia sufferers, as it allows them to work through their feelings and confront any issues which may have caused them to develop an eating disorder. CBT may also teach sufferers to adopt a healthier attitude to food.

On rare occasions, a sufferer may be admitted to hospital if serious health problems occur or there is a risk of them self-harming or committing suicide

Self-help groups may also be beneficial in aiding recovery. Sufferers can meet people who have been through the same experiences as themselves.

Fighting bulimia is largely down to the sufferer, but friends and family can do a lot to help. Try not to criticize or put pressure on the person in question and instead offer them unconditional support. Recovery can be long and difficult, but with commitment and patience, it can be achieved.

So many people have expressed to me that they are scared to stop binge eating disorder. It's not that they don't want to live a binge-free life; instead, they just aren't sure how their life will be without binge eating.

It's true: To let go of binge eating is a very scary thought. It's been something that is comfortable for you for a long time. I remember feeling the same way. In fact, when I told my husband that I had an unhealthy relationship with food, I instantaneously wished I could take back the words that I just spoke to him. My "secret" was no longer a secret anymore and that didn't feel too good.

There are a million and one reasons why people are afraid to stop binge eating. One reason is that binge eating on junk food makes people think that they are living just a little because they aren't following a strict diet.

It's the same mentality that most of us follow while on vacation. You think to yourself, "I don't have to stick to my diet this week, I'm going to live a little and indulge. After all, I'm on vacation and that's what it is all about". It is freeing to undo all the food restrictions you might have every other time of the year.

Do people equate not binging to a boring and very bland life? (You have to admit, there is something exciting about planning a binge...)

But, let's talk about really "living just a little" without binge eating.

Think of all the newfound confidence you will have, and think about how it will show to others.

Think about how much better you will feel.

Think about how much more energy you will have.

Think about all the extra money and time you will have.

Think about how much more you will enjoy your life!

With everything in life, there are obstacles and binge eating disorder is no different. The initial climb to stopping a binge is difficult, but when you focus on the good that will come out of stopping binge eating disorder, it will get easier. It will remind you of why you need to go in that direction.

You will think twice of binge eating when you do not want to deal with a certain emotion or feeling in your life. You have to let yourself know that your life will be so much better when binge eating disorder is not a part of it! You cannot dwell on the negatives of binge eating; focus on the positives and how your life will change for the better. When you learn to stop binge eating, you will notice how your life improves in all areas. You will feel better about yourself and you will love yourself. It will be the best decision you could have ever made!

Stopping binge eating disorder is not easy, but if you put your mind into it, you can do it.

Binge eating is also called emotional eating or compulsive eating. People who suffer from binge eating lose self control over food. All they can think about is food, all day long. They tend to binge a large amount of food throughout the day. Consuming 5000 calories a day is not uncommon at all. People who suffer from this disease usually are socially withdrawn because they do not want their friends to know about their problems. They feel self conscious. They tend to become lack of energy due to over eating. Many sufferers complain that they do not know if they are hungry any more, they just eat and eat until they feel sick. The worse part is that they hate themselves for not being able to control themselves. The depression cause them to eat even more. It become a bad vicious cycle. They also suffer from low self-esteem. Very often, they know they have a problem, but they cannot find people to share their problems with, and they feel alone and hopeless.

If any of these symptoms sound like you, read on. This article will help you to find ways to stop binge eating disorder.

1. To stop binge eating, you have to develop a commitment to overcome this problem. I know it sounds cliché, but it is what it really needs to take. Binge eating disorder is food addiction, like any other addiction, you need to commit yourself to overcome it. Do it one day at a time. Feel proud of yourself each and every day that you do not binge. Make a plan to limit your food intake each day, write it down, and stick to it. I know it is easier said than done. But when you actually see the result, see yourself getting healthier, it will get easier because you start to realize you can stop binge eating and you are in control.

2. Throw away all the food that you binge on.

This is one of the tactics to prevent you from bingeing. Many people binge on junk food, such as cookies, candies, and high sugar cereal. Throw all the junk food away. If they are not in your house, you cannot binge on them.

3. Before you go grocery shopping, make sure to make a shopping list and stick to it. Do not go grocery shopping when you are hungry. This is critical. When you are hungry, everything looks great to you and you will buy food that you do not need. Simply go in, get the food that you need, then leave. Stay away from the temptation isles. It will be even better if you can find someone else to do grocery for you.

4. Share your problems with your love ones. Emotional support is very important. If you live with your family, explain to them your problem. Have someone by your side to give you support and encourage can make it a lot easier to overcome binge eating disorder.

5. When you have the crave to binge, stop yourself for a moment and ask yourself :

"Do I really need this cookie?"

"Do I want to gain more weight?"

"Does this really make me feel better"

"Am I really hungry?"

Take a deep breath and drink a glass of water. When you give yourself a minute to think, you are less likely to binge.

6. Start an eating journal. This is a tool that many sufferers use to overcome binge eating disorder. When you are eating, you do not think of how much you have actually eaten. Start a journal to write down what you eat and drink, when you eat, how you feel before you eat, and how you feel after you eat. With more detail, you will notice what your eating habit is and find out why you binge. Do you always to binge before an exam? Do you binge when you stressed? Do you binge when you are happy or sad? Once you find the cause of your binge eating disorder, you can tackle the root cause.

7. Find a substitute. When you have the crave to binge, do something you enjoy instead. When you are doing something that you enjoy, you will not feel that you are deprived of something make you feel good. When you are doing something that you enjoy, you would be distracted and forget about bingeing as well. For instance, watch your favorite TV shows, take a walk to your favorite mall, walk your dog, or call a friend to watch a movie, or play on the Wii (good exercise and fun).

8. Seek professional help. If nothing help, there are always professional who can help you. You are not alone, and should not feel that way. Look for support groups online or offline will help you gain emotional support to help you to stop binge eating.

I hope these 8 ways to stop binge eating can give you some ideas to how to control and overcome binge eating disorder. You might feel alone and helpless, but you are not. Many people have the same problem and they are able to find ways to stop binge eating. If you commit yourself to stop binge eating, with support from your love ones, you can stop binge eating and get your life back easier than you think!

Eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa affect all age groups. The people who are most commonly affected are those who are in their college student years (teenagers to early twenties).

Statistics published by The Massachusetts Eating Disorders Association relating to eating disorders in college students believe that 40% of female college students and 15% of women suffer from eating disorders and that it is increasing in male college students.

Early diagnosis and subsequent treatment increases the chances of recovery. Still, countless college students only seek help after the illness is advanced. Experts suggest that college students endeavor to hide their disorder, that they and their friends may be in denial or are just unaware of the warning signs of anorexia or bulimia.

Anorexia or bulimia can cause damage to the brain, liver, kidneys, heart, pancreas, skin, bones and teeth (just about every body system or organ if left untreated). These eating disorders may cause heart, kidney and liver failure, osteoporosis, ulcers and death.

Anorexia drives college students to extreme measures so as not to eat and many exercise fanatically (well past optimal health requirements), weigh themselves constantly, frequently restrict social or pleasurable activities and have few friends. Notwithstanding this, most are well aware of nutrition and calorie requirements for people in their age group.

Signs of anorexia include broken nails, thinning hair, denial of hunger feelings, fear of becoming fat, avoidance of situations involving food consumption or preparation, increased depression, irritability or anxiety.

Bulimia is a 'binge and purge' procedure (when a person consumes large amounts of food in a short time followed by forced vomiting) although it can also be a condition of only binge eating and no purging. Some students attempt to compensate the binging through excessive exercise and laxatives.

Students may actually maintain normal body weight, however they severely restrict calorie intake between binges. Physical signs include degeneration of the teeth from regular contact with stomach acid, certain types of hand calluses from forcing vomiting, broken blood vessels around the eyes, swollen glands and stomach pain. Anorexic or bulimic women often stop menstruating. Further signs are hiding food, use of diuretics, excessive rigid exercise schedule, frequently smelling of vomit and evidence of large numbers of food wrappers and containers.

If this is familiar to any person reading this or someone they know, then take action without delay - the longer any eating disorder goes untreated the more advanced and critical the illness becomes. Full recovery may not be possible and anorexia or bulimia in college students (and other people) can mean death and is not to be fooled around with. Get professional help!

There must be some reason why some girls are never happy with the way their bodies look while other girls are always comfortable in their own skins. Why is this? There are many factors, and self esteem issues are only one of the possibilities.

Gender is an issue. Eating disorders are more common in women than in men, but there has been a dramatic increase in the number of boys and young men who have developed the same eating disorders that their female peers experience; both anorexia and bulimia are seen.

Age does matter: while eating disorders have been known to either occur or recur as late as middle age, the bulk of eating disorder sufferers are younger, in their teens or early twenties.

Another factor is having someone who is close to you who has an eating disorder. For instance, if a family member or a close friend suffers from an eating disorder, your risk rises. This is counterintuitive but has been shown by studies to be the case.

Persons with compulsive behavior such as an OCD are also far more likely than the general public to develop these disorders. These people have a tendency to develop eating disorders as another way of maintaining control over their environment. Women who suffer from anxiety disorders or depression are also at increased risk.

Those who are intensely competitive in athletics or compulsive exercisers are also candidates for developing eating disorders. These individuals sometimes believe that the disorder will help them become better athletes.

Of course, peer and family pressure is a big factor in the development of eating disorders. Our peers have a deep effect on the way we see ourselves. Criticism from the people around us related to our bodies can actually cause the development of eating disorders, even if in jest.

If you happen to fall into any of the above categories, you should take steps to ensure that you won't fall victim to an eating disorder - or if you already suffer from one, prevent the condition from worsening. Ask your doctor what a healthy weight is for your body type and how best to maintain it.

Work on building your self esteem and confidence and try to avoid people who criticize you all of the time. Don't listen to these bad influences that are driving you to an eating disorder.

Also, don't fall into the mindset that there is something wrong with you if you don't look exactly like the models on the covers of magazines. Remember two things: First, most people do NOT look like this and many of these models do not look like this in real life! Second, even these same models will tell you that they are grateful for digital photo technology for making it possible for their own imperfections to be covered up for these photos.

People with eating disorders suffer in many ways: physically, mentally and emotionally. Let's look at each way of suffering separately.

Mentally they experience feelings of fear, inadequacy, and reduced ability to concentrate. All these affect the sufferer's studies, work and relationships. In severe cases sufferers even leave their jobs or studies because of their inability to cope with every day stress. Their coping strategies are limited to food. They have to binge or starve themselves to cope even with a little stress.

So you can see that the mental part of suffering significantly diminishes the quality of the anorexics-bulimics life.

Emotionally all of them feel down normally although anorexics sometimes feel high in the beginning of the disorder. The only satisfaction and false happiness they have comes from food (or should I say from food abuse: binging, purging or starving themselves.)

People with the eating disorder bulimia are dreaming about food while asleep or awake. They dream of what they would like to eat, what they will prepare for their next binge. They then spend the whole of the next day preparing for a binge.

You may ask: "How do they feel if they don't go through with their regular food abuse?" The answer is:" They feel like an alcoholic who has nothing to drink or like a drug addict who does not have access to any drugs. They feel shaky and nauseous, they feel they must binge and purge whatever the cost; they can't concentrate on anything else except for food."

Anorexics on the other hand fear food and perceive food as evil and dangerous. They believe that one single bite of food will make them put on an enormous amount of weight. And if they do have a little bit of food they are compelled to work it all out by over exercising, enemas, laxatives or vomiting.

People with eating disorders are normally withdrawn and hide their feelings. Instead of identifying, acknowledging and dealing with their emotions they blame themselves, feel guilty and anxious. They often compare themselves with others and always find themselves inferior to those people. They always think that other people are doing better then them.

These thoughts produce even more guilt and shame in their souls which then makes them turn to food abuse again and again.

Binging and purging appears to be cathartic as it stimulates special reward centers in the brain. These cause a false and temporary relief to their state of mind. Very soon they get addicted to these false feelings of relief and like alcoholics or drug addicts get hooked on the feelings binging gives them.

Anorexics get similar feelings but in relation to starving themselves. They get weird feelings of satisfaction by starvation.

The physical suffering includes constipation, increased sensitivity to infections, stomach aches, headaches, nausea, anemia, kidney damage, very low pulse rates, cardiovascular disorders and fragile bones due to low skeletal calcium.

Continued vomiting can cause erosion of the dental enamel and the teeth become corroded and chipped. The throat normally gets very sore and salivary glands can increase in size making the sufferers face puffy and swollen.

The most serious consequence from having an eating disorder is cardiac complications, as this can cause sudden death even when a person's asleep. This happens because of the extremely low levels of minerals (especially potassium) due to vomiting or starvation.

The heart must have potassium and other minerals to work correctly and to remain strong. If there is an extreme shortage of potassium the human heart simply stops working.

To conclude, it is important to understand that vomiting and starvation is only a way to add more problems to your existing ones. It is not a release for your day to day problems but a sure fired way for increasing them.