When she gained 75 pounds, then lost them as a Jenny Craig spokesperson, then gained them AGAIN, many speculated that actress Kirstie Alley had binge eating disorder. Binge eating disorder is a newly recognized condition that is actually believed to be the most common of ALL eating disorders. In fact, as many as 2% of Americans may be afflicted with this condition! People with binge eating disorder engage in recurrent, compulsive sessions of overeating, called binges. During a binge, sufferers will feel out of control, and unable to stop themselves from eating. Most individuals with binge eating disorder feel embarrassment, shame, and guilt about overeating. This means that many of them eat in secret, and even their friends and families are unaware that there is a problem with food. It's easy to confuse binge eating disorder with bulimia nervosa, which is ALSO marked by binges and guilt feelings. However, while bulimics PURGE the food they've consumed, people with binge eating disorder do NOT usually engage in this vomiting, laxative abuse, or excessive exercising. As a result, most binge eaters are obese, which means they weigh 20-percent or MORE than is healthy. Usually, this condition shows up in a person's late teens or early 20s, and it affects men as well as women. In fact, men make up 35-perecent of all binge eaters! It has been noted that almost half of people with binge eating disorder ALSO have a history of clinical depression. And people who overeat compulsively often come from families that put an unnatural emphasis on food as reward or comfort. As was the case with Kristie Alley, sufferers often have histories of dieting, then falling off the wagon. But, whatever the cause, binge eating disorder can lead to SERIOUS health problems related to obesity. These include: type two diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, gall bladder disease and heart disease. Binge eating disorder is also related to headaches, insomnia, joint and muscle pain, and menstrual problems. The good news is that a combination of talk therapy and drug therapy CAN help! Psychotherapy for binge eating disorder focuses on changing both thoughts and behaviors surrounding food. Often, nutritional counseling is necessary to teach normal, healthy eating patterns. In addition, antidepressants, like Prozac and Paxil can help control the anxiety and depression associated with the disorder. With commitment to their treatment programs, people with binge eating disorder often overcome the habit of binging. That's exactly what Alley hopes to do in front of the cameras in her new A&E television show, "Kristie Alley's Big Life." But binge eating disorder is NOT entertainment. If you believe you or someone you love has a problem with overeating, please see a doctor!