Binge Drinking
Binge drinking is defined by the CDC as routine drinking that brings blood alcohol content (BAC) levels up to 0.08, which would equate to 5 drinks for men and 4 for women within a few hours. Binge drinking is different from heavy drinking, which is qualified as having 8 or more drinks for women and 15 or more drinks for men in a week. Any excessive alcohol use, including binge drinking, is strongly linked with negative consequences such as higher risk of developing cancer, chronic memory loss, or even death due to alcohol poisoning.
The 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that around 61.4 million Americans ages 12 and older reported binge drinking within the last month. This equates to 21.7% of the population ages 12 and older who have recently exceeded recommended alcohol consumption for their group. Of the groups who reported binge drinking, young adults are the most concerning, as 28.7% of adults ages 18-25 reported binge drinking within a month of filling out the NSDUH.
Binge Eating Disorder
Binge eating disorder (BED) is an eating disorder characterized by binge eating, or eating large amounts of food in a specific period of time, up to 2 hours. Eating binges are not strictly defined, but usually include eating until uncomfortably full, eating very quickly, and feelings of immense shame afterwards. Binge eating disorder is more common in people with obesity, but you don’t have to be obese to have BED, and most people with obesity do not have BED.
Binge eating disorder only became a diagnostic category of eating disorder in 2013, and since then, it has become the second most diagnosed eating disorder. Given its prevalence, it is important to stay informed about binge eating disorder. People with BED have an increased risk of developing conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and gastrointestinal issues. Environmental factors are often responsible for someone developing BED, as childhood exposure to unhealthy eating habits could fester and be replicated in adult life.
BIPOC
BIPOC stands for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, and it is a modern term that serves as a more descriptive version of “people of color”. The philosophy of the term is to highlight the history of slavery and oppression experienced by Black and Indigenous people in such a way that isn’t minimized by their inclusion in POC. This history of systemic violence and oppression against Black and Indigenous people remains relevant in modern-day legislation and organizations of communities, which further justifies the need for the distinction. In spite of that, the term BIPOC is meant to bring systemically disadvantaged groups together even if they don’t have the exact same experiences.
While BIPOC is a useful term to refer to large communities of non-white people, it can be harmful to use it as a blanket term to describe smaller groups. For example, there is a tendency to use the phrase “BIPOC children” instead of “Black children” when describing people growing up in certain predominantly Black neighborhoods. Using BIPOC like this could make statements seem to refer to non-white people as a whole instead of a specific cultural identity or ethnicity.
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic depression, is a chronic mood disorder characterized by mood swings between states known as euthymia, mania (or hypomania, a less severe version of mania) and depression. There are two main types of bipolar disorders: bipolar I and bipolar II. The difference between the two lies in the presence of mania; people with bipolar II disorder have never experienced a manic episode, but may have experienced hypomania and depression.
Euthymia is a neutral state that lies between mania and depression, where no extreme mood swings are present. Mania involves feelings of extreme happiness or excitement, increased irritability, and high levels of energy. Mania may lead to impulsive decision-making, like suddenly ending relationships or spending large amounts of money. Depression, on the other hand, involves feelings of sadness or hopelessness, anhedonia (loss of pleasure), and low levels of energy. Depression may lead to a loss of enjoyment in pleasurable activities and the inability to perform simple tasks.