We binge eat once in a while, especially if we're seriously hungry or are in a very strict diet. However, if your eating habits are something you cannot control and it's possibly tied to a mental or emotional problem, there's a good chance that you're suffering from a binge eating disorder.
Binge eating disorder is already a recognized mental disorder after it's been added to the official list by the American Psychiatric Association. This simply means that it can be possibly treated with prescription
And the Food and Drug Administration has one for you.
The FDA has just recently approved Vyvanse for the treatment of binge-eating disorder. The drug has actually been prescribed on patients with attention-deficit disorder, but the FDA, with its approval, has just expanded its use.
This drug is intended for those who have a moderate to severe case of binge eating disorder. These are individuals who overeat even to the point of feeling uncomfortably full for three days straight in a week.
Although the real cause of the disorder still remains unknown, many health experts believe that it is related to biological and psychological factors. This is because the patient often lacks self-control once they start to overeat.
Nevertheless, binge eating is a serious health problem as it makes the patient at a higher risk of becoming overweight or obese. Obesity today is considered an epidemic and a major cause of some of the chronic diseases in the world such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and certain cancers such as colon and stomach.
Moreover, according to the director of psychiatry products division of FDA Dr. Mitchell Mathis, the disorder can have a huge effect on the behavior and personality of the patient, including embarrassment and poor body image.
The drug has gone through a priority review, which means it went through an expedited process and thus quick approval.
