What Exactly is Binge Eating?

Binge eating refers to the act of over eating. It is the most common eating disorder which is faced by approximately 30% of people are seeking weight loss treatment. Although this is common to obese people, individuals with normal weight are also included in this number. Simply because anybody can have this most common eating disorder.

Unlike other eating disorders such as bulimia and emotional eating, binge eating doesn’t crave for food. While emotional eating happens only when someone is at extreme emotions, binge eating eats with no reason at all. In reality, a binge eater has negative feelings over foods. In fact, they have the knowledge about their eating disorder and always have the desire to hide it from other people. Some indications of this eating disorder are uncontrollable eating habit, eating rapid and secret eating, eating until feeling nauseated, feeling ashamed and disgusted after eating.

Binge eating has various bad effects to our health. Primarily, it results to a sudden onset of weight gain which in the long run will result to obesity. As we know, obesity is a greater risk to different chronic disorders. This eating disorder gives the body more fats, sugar and sodium as well as fewer nutrients. A binge eater is in a state of denial that it can’t taste the food that it consumes in large amount. Often times, it may bring high cholesterol level, kidney stone, diabetes and cancer. In addition, it can carry some ailments like indigestion, spasms and sleep apnea.

Binge eating is caused by many factors. In its biological aspect, low level of brain serotonin contributes to compulsive eating. Hypothalamus which is associated with appetite is also another factor as it might send incorrect messages regarding hunger and fullness. Thus, even if a binge eater eats large amount of foods, he may have a hard time to figure out that he’s already full. On its psychological aspect, binge eating may be caused by depression which is brought by loneliness, low self-esteem and body dissatisfaction. It disrupts the body’s control towards its impulses and expressions of feelings. Usually, eating became the object to which the depression is expressed. On its social aspect, social pressure and sexual abuse may result to binge eating. In our society, although there’s actual discrimination being thin is the accepted body size. This problem is usually experienced by overweight people who are pressured to lose weight. Some other factors are failure of losing weight.

Fortunately, binge eating can be treated. However, the success of its treatment lies on the patient itself. It requires a certain level of motivation in order to continue with the treatment no matter how hard it may seem. Failure through giving up has no place in this treatment.

Primarily, binge eating is strongly associated with psychiatric problems. Therefore, it’s better to consult with psychiatrists and psychologists. Therapies are prescribed to encourage and develop certain behaviors called by a certain situation to avoid binge eating. It somehow develop positive outlook in any tough situation.

Binge eating is a disorder, thus, it’s necessary to bring it into order. Otherwise, the problem would just upsurge. If not treated, binge eating would definitely result to obesity and other health problems.