Binge Eating Disorder

Binge eating disorder is characterized by compulsive overeating in which people consume huge amounts of food while feeling out of control and powerless to stop. The symptoms of binge eating disorder usually begin in late adolescence or early adulthood, often after a major diet. A binge eating episode typically lasts around two hours, but some people binge on and off all day long. Binge eaters often eat even when they’re not hungry and continue eating long after they’re full. They may also gorge themselves as fast as they can while barely registering what they’re eating or tasting.  People who have this disorder struggle with feelings of guilt, disgust, and depression. They worry about what the compulsive eating will do to their bodies; they beat themselves up for their lack of self-control. They desperately want to stop binge eating, but feel like they can’t. Binge eating often leads to weight gain and obesity, which only reinforces compulsive eating. The worse binge eaters feel about themselves, the more they use food to cope. It becomes a vicious cycle: eating to feel better, feeling even worse, and then turning back to food for relief.

Signs and symptoms of binge eating disorder

People with binge eating disorder are embarrassed and ashamed of their eating habits, so they often try to hide their symptoms and eat in secret. Many binge eaters are overweight or obese, but some are of normal weight.

Ask yourself the following questions. The more “yes” answers, the more likely it is that you have binge eating disorder.

    * Do you feel out of control when you’re eating?

    * Do you think about food all the time?

    * Do you eat in secret?

    * Do you eat until you feel sick?

    * Do you eat to escape from worries, relieve stress, or to comfort yourself?

    * Do you feel disgusted or ashamed after eating?

    * Do you feel powerless to stop eating, even though you want to?

Emotional symptoms of compulsive overeating

    * Feeling stress or tension that is only relieved by eating

    * Embarrassment over how much you’re eating

    * Feeling numb while bingeing—like you’re not really there or you’re on auto-pilot.

    * Never feeling satisfied, no matter how much you eat

    * Feeling guilty, disgusted, or depressed after overeating

    * Desperation to control weight and eating habits

Biological causes of binge eating disorder

Biological abnormalities can contribute to binge eating. For example, the hypothalamus (the part of the brain that controls appetite) may not be sending correct messages about hunger and fullness. Researchers have also found a genetic mutation that appears to cause food addiction. Finally, there is evidence that low levels of the brain chemical serotonin play a role in compulsive eating.

Social and cultural causes of binge eating disorder

Social pressure to be thin can add to the shame binge eaters feel and fuel their emotional eating. Some parents unwittingly set the stage for binge eating by using food to comfort, dismiss, or reward their children. Children who are exposed to frequent critical comments about their bodies and weight are also vulnerable, as are those who have been sexually abused in childhood.

How to stop binge eating (Next Edition)

BY: OLA UCHENDU