HOUSTON, March 11 (UPI) -- Researchers said Thursday that overweight and obese Americans need to change their lifestyle and eliminate supersize fries and drinks.
To start, said the researchers at The Menninger Clinic, Americans should reduce portion sizes and increase physical activity.
"Americans are supersizing ourselves to death," said Nancy McReynolds, a certified eating disorders counselor at Menninger. The clinic's Eating Disorders Program treats adolescents and adults from across the country who are suffering the multiple effects of binge eating, bulimia, anorexia and other eating disorders.
"Deaths from binge eating, as well as starving of anorexia, are usually attributed to heart disease, stroke or even diabetes," McReynolds said. "In reality, people don't realize that persons who are obese because of an eating disorder are dying as a result of having an eating disorder. Eating disorders have the highest death rate of any mental illness."
As many as 4 million Americans suffer from binge eating compulsions, McReynolds said.
