There are 8 million victims in this country and 90 percent are women. 6 percent of serious cases result in death. Bulimia Nervosa Characterized by binge eating before self-induced vomiting and misuse of laxatives or diuretics. Binge Eating Disorder or Compulsive Eating Involves uncontrolled eating usually kept secret. Unlike bulimia, sufferers do not purge after overeating.
Food is used as a means of coping with psychological problems.
40 percent of obese people may be binge eaters. Obesity affects about 10 percent of women aged 25 to 45. Obesity increases women's risk for heart disease, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, atherosclerosis and some types of cancer. See also the Web site of the American Diabetes Association . Seventy percent of obese children remain obese as adults.