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Eating Disorders: Binge eating (Compulsive overeating) 101

Binge eating disorder feels like there is a switch inside of you. When you are ‘on’ you are upbeat, dieting, socializing, and exercising. When you are ‘off’ you are depressed, isolated, and binge eating. Binge eating disorder affects both men and women. For more information on other eating disorders (anorexia and builimia), check out our other blog articles.

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, binge eating disorder is the most common eating disorder in the United States. This disorder is characterized by individuals eating large amounts of food in one sitting, and feeling immediately guilty after. It is not an issue of ‘willpower’, but an eating disorder. The need for control and feelings of shame are most common.

Take, for instance, Claire. She is a 27-year-old, normal, healthy girl. She spends her days working and maintaining a healthy diet through meal preparation. However, when she begins to feel overwhelmed she eats compulsively, and excessively. She is then left feeling guilty for the amount of food she has eaten and starts exercising harder, restricting food, and eventually, is so stressed that the cycle starts again. This is a common situation for people who suffer from binge eating disorders.

What Is an Eating Disorder?

Eating disorders are behavioral conditions that are characterized by persistent and severe disturbances in eating behaviors. These are often associated with distressing thoughts surrounding eating. These are very serious and can affect one’s physical, psychological, and social well-being. The most common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, avoidant restrictive food intake disorder. However, there are many more.

All together, eating disorders affect up to 5% of people. They often develop during adolescence and young adulthood. They are more common in women (particularly anorexia and bulimia nervosa) but can occur in anyone regardless of age or gender. Eating disorders are associated with anxiety surrounding the consequences of eating certain foods. People will often restrict their eating, avoid certain foods, binge eat, purge, misuse laxatives, or obsessively exercise.

Eating disorders do not usually work alone and often coexist with other psychiatric disorders (anxiety, substance abuse problems, and obsessive-compulsive disorder are most common). There is some correlation between genetics and heritability when it comes to developing an eating disorder, but it can also affect those with no family history.

What Causes Binge Eating?

There is little known about the development of binge eating disorder and its causes. It typically onsets in adolescence and young adulthood but could affect any age group.

Researchers have found that the condition tends to run in families, which may mean a genetic predisposition or familial pressures surrounding weight. The most apparent trigger for binge eating is negative emotions. Other triggers could include eating too little when dieting, negative body image, interpersonal stressors, or boredom.

While there is much still to be learned about binge eating disorder, what we do know can help people receive the help they need.

Symptoms

While binge eating disorder may manifest differently for different people, here are some symptoms to look out for. If you have experienced three or more, you may have it.

  • Eating until you are uncomfortably full,
  • Eating large amounts of food even when you are not hungry,
  • Feeling guilty after eating,
  • Eating alone and feeling embarrassed about it,
  • Eating more quickly than you normally would,
  • Stealing or hoarding food,
  • Trying out various diets,
  • Frequent changes in weight,
  • Erratic eating habits (skipping meals, replacing meals with snacks, not eating on a schedule),
  • Stomach issues as a result of binge eating.

If you are eating an unusually large amount of food at least once a week for three months, you could meet the criteria for binge eating disorder. Some people eat a full pizza or a box of cookies in such a short period of time they hardly taste it.

Long Term Effects of Binge Eating

The first step to recovering from binge eating is to learn more about the long-term side effects that can happen without starting treatment. Binge eating may not seem particularly worrisome, but it can have severe long-term consequences on your health. People who suffer from binge eating may experience:

  • High blood pressure,
  • Diabetes,
  • Gallbladder disease,
  • Heart disease,
  • High cholesterol,
  • Increased risk of certain cancers.

This goes to show that everything we do can affect the rest of our bodies. These health problems develop over time, so with the right treatment plan, they can be prevented.

Treatment

Your individual treatment plan will vary. It is crucial for anyone struggling with an eating disorder to work with a professional to develop a care plan and receive treatment.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is one particularly great approach that helps people keep track of their eating and unlearn unhealthy behaviors. CBT also helps people change their reactions to situations, helping the client learn how to cope more healthily. Interpersonal psychotherapy is another approach where clients look at their relationships with family and friends and make changes accordingly. Medications (such as antidepressants) may be very helpful for some folks. Another therapy practice could include dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). This method helps people regulate their emotions. For more information on the different types of talk therapy, check out our article here.

Many people with eating disorders will participate in outpatient therapy (group, individual, or family therapy). Support groups have also proven to be very helpful. Inpatient or other hospital-based care is necessary when an eating disorder has become life-threatening or associated with major psychological problems.

There are many different ways to treat an eating disorder, but the most important is to acknowledge that there is a problem. If you or a loved one are looking for support, check out Mental Treat’s platform to find the right mental health specialist for you. To find a professional equipped to treat patients with eating disorders, simply use our filters.

5 Tips to Cope Better in Everyday Life

1. Identify your emotions.

When feelings start to arise, being able to identify them helps you figure out the root of the trigger. It becomes much easier to cope when you understand what you are feeling and why. Catch yourself and ask why you are feeling a particular way. Try asking:

  • How do I address this emotion?
  • What will make me feel better?
  • How do I take care of myself best right now?

2. Acknowledge toxic diet culture.

Instagram explore pages can be full of low-calorie, low-sugar, low-fat, low-content meals that make it impossible to avoid weight loss marketing. Being able to spot toxic diet culture is the best way to prevent being triggered by it. Remember, diet foods are often not that great for you. They typically are unhealthy foods being marketed in convincing ways.

3. Know how to handle your triggers.

It is inevitable that a trigger will arise, so know how you need to deal with it when it happens. Mindfulness meditation is a great way to start. Focus on the present moment and stop negative thoughts in their tracks. For more information on mindfulness, check out this article. Here are some quick exercises you can do to practice mindfulness:

  • Focus on your breathing. Sit and close your eyes if you can. When you draw attention to your breath, it helps keep it normal.
  • Pay attention to your senses. Think about what you are hearing, smelling, tasting, feeling, and seeing. This brings your awareness to the present moment.

4. Keep a journal.

Journaling is a great way to keep track of your thoughts and emotions. It can really help you be grounded by writing down a response to your situation and get your feelings on a situation out there. It could be as simple as a notes app on your phone or a physical diary. Whatever works for you!

5. Let old patterns go.

It can be very difficult to not fall victim to old patterns. For some people, eating is a comfort. For others, restricting food intake is. It is important to be aware of the use of food and how that connects to negative thought patterns. The more you can break these patterns, the healthier you will be.

A Word From Mental Treat

If you are struggling with a binge eating disorder or any other eating disorder, you are not alone. We recommend reaching out to someone, a friend, family member, doctor, or therapist for support. You need a great support system for treatment and those are great places to start.

It may seem like a difficult path to recovery, but treatment is effective and accessible. We hope this article helps you as you or someone you know begins this journey. Let’s work together to break the stigma and continue educating ourselves on these disorders and many more. Take care, and be well.

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