Binge eating disorder is denoted when compulsive overeating occur. The symptom mainly occurs when people consume huge amounts of food due to lack of control. The symptoms usually begin in late adolescence. At this age, binge eaters often eat even when theyâre not hungry and continue eating for long hours even when theyâre full. Binge eating disorder might also happen in early adulthood, especially after following a strict diet.
Understanding binge eating
Also termed as compulsive over eating, binge eating is is an eating disorder among people when they are emotionally driven by stress, are upset or hurt about something or when annoyed and angry. It involves unhealthy and imbalanced pattern of eating in large quantities, gulping down food quickly, involving in other activities while munching food like watching T.V. or doing homework, not stopping when the stomach feels full and, most humorously, even feeling guilty after having over eaten.
People indulging in binge eating do not want to be over weight and prefer to look slim and healthy as they feel absolutely impossible to control their urge to go on eating while doing something. But realize their mistake once they’re done with it. Binge eating, however, should not be misinterpreted as over eating during teenage hood when the body demands additional nutrients for the proper growth and development of muscles and bones. It stands out from an increase in normal appetite or eating extra while on a holiday, as a person who has the habit of bingeing would eat more than his appetite on a regular basis irrespective of his body’s needs and demands for healthy growth of the same.
Compulsive overeating versus binge eating disorder
Compulsive over eaters or binge eaters are characterized as being addicted to food resulting in frequent in takes of food on a regular basis during which the sufferer is in a state of total frenzy. They eat at a very great speed, which seems abnormally quick, and even continue eating in spite of feeling uncomfortable and uneasy. It gives way to developing distress, depression and even a quilt feeling within the individual involved in this act.
Moreover, binge eating or compulsive over eaters, unlike people suffering from bulimia, do not try to compensate for their guilty act by undergoing spells of fasting, using laxatives or vomiting out the excess food. Their focus always revolves around planning and fantasizing about food which ultimately ends up in making them obese. These binge eaters even get engaged in grazing on food which ends up in increasing their total intake of calories to multifolds, thereby making them develop a binge eating disorder. However, when a person is involved in a procedure of over eating on a continuous basis, but is not binging, he is said to be suffering from compulsive overeating disorder.
Why do some people binge eat
Binge eating disorder is considered as a very recent discovery to have hit millions of Americans who do not have a compulsive say or control over their habit of over eating and they do not even to balance it off by throwing up or switching to laxatives. However, the reason behind this persistent habit of eating uncontrollably in large quantities among people is still unknown and unclear, but some of the recent surveys reveal that more than half of the sufferers of binge eating disorder have recorded a past history of depression, but whether their depressed state is the cause or effect of their binge eating habit is still a mystery.
Certain school of researchers even believe that emotional bouts of sadness, boredom, anger, frustration and other negative issues may even be a major cause of binge eating disorder. Impulsive behavior or other psychological disorders, including aggressive dieting, may also be closely associated with binge eating disorder. Researchers are even looking out for effects of brain chemicals and the body’s metabolism on the sufferers of this disease and whether they are correlated or not, but it is too early to come to a conclusion regarding the above study as it is still under its early stages.
When is it time to see the physician
Binge eating disorder is a root cause for many emotional, physical and social disorders. A person suffering from this disorder, apart from being physically over weight and obese, may report of constant and serious health issues, insomnia and may even develop strong suicidal thoughts and an urge to give up his life. Depression, anxiety, substance abusiveness are some of its majorly marked side effects. It leads to numerous kinds of health disorders, including cancer, diabetes, heart diseases and sleep apnea as well. His capacity to deal with stressful situations may weaken considerably, making him feel totally disturbed and having no control over his emotions and actions.
When a person starts co relating to all these symptoms, becomes excessively over weight and in spite of realizing it, is not able to refrain from eating. He should immediately seek professional advice and treatment for the same and consult health professionals like a psychiatrist, a nutritionist, a therapist and even an obesity specialist. Seeking the right advise at the right hour can save you from this fatal disorder.
How to avoid the complications
The complications associated with binge eating disorders can be checked and brought under control by building a healthy environment in the house and the surrounding so that teens and adults do not feel the need to indulge in such uncouth activities. Right from the initial stages teens and adults should be taught how to put up a brave front in an attempt to resist societal pressures relating to thinness. They should be encouraged to understand what actually determines body weight, highlighting the negative side of eating disorders, boosting their self esteem and teaching the art of stress management. Complications resulting into eating disorders can be prevented to a great extent if proper education is imparted to individuals regarding healthy weight control.