Breaking the cycle of binge eating
Binge eating disorder is a serious mental illness that affects millions of Americans. It is characterized by uncontrollable overeating, often to the point of feeling uncomfortably full. People with binge eating disorder often eat even when they’re not hungry and continue eating even after they’re full. Binge eating disorder is different from overeating on occasion. It’s a chronic problem that can lead to serious health consequences, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
Although anyone can develop binge eating disorder, it’s more common in women than men and often begins in adolescence or young adulthood. Genetics, brain chemistry, and psychological factors may all play a role in its development.
Binge eating disorder is a treatable condition. A combination of therapy and medication is often the most effective treatment. If you think you or a loved one may have binge eating disorder, talk to a doctor or mental health professional.
What is binge eating disorder?
Binge eating disorder is a type of eating disorder. People with binge eating disorder lose control of their eating. They eat large amounts of food in a short period of time. They may feel like they can’t stop eating or like they can’t control how much they eat.
Binge eating disorder is different from overeating on occasion, such as at a holiday meal. Binge eating disorder is a chronic problem. People with binge eating disorder often feel ashamed, embarrassed, or guilty after eating.
What are the symptoms of binge eating disorder?
People with binge eating disorder may:
Eat large amounts of food in a short period of time
Feel like they can’t stop eating or like they can’t control how much they eat
Eat even when they’re not hungry
Eat to the point of feeling uncomfortably full
Keep eating even after they’re full
Feel ashamed, embarrassed, or guilty after eating
People with binge eating disorder often eat more quickly than usual during a binge. They may eat until they’re uncomfortably full. They may feel like they can’t control what or how much they’re eating.
After a binge, people with binge eating disorder often feel ashamed, embarrassed, or guilty. They may try to hide their binge eating from family and friends.
What causes binge eating disorder?
The cause of binge eating disorder is not clear. It may be caused by a combination of factors. These include genetics, brain chemistry, and psychological factors.
Binge eating disorder is more common in women than men. It often begins in adolescence or young adulthood.
Binge eating disorder can lead to serious health problems.
People with binge eating disorder are at increased risk for:
Obesity
Type 2 diabetes
High blood pressure
Heart disease
Binge eating disorder can also lead to:
Depression
Anxiety
Problems with relationships
Problems at work or school
Poor self-esteem
Substance abuse
How is binge eating disorder treated?
Binge eating disorder is a treatable condition. A combination of therapy and medication is often the most effective treatment.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of therapy that can help people with binge eating disorder. CBT can help people with binge eating disorder learn to:
Control their eating
Manage their emotions
cope with stress
Medications that have been shown to be effective in treating binge eating disorder include:
Antidepressants
Anti-anxiety medications
Topiramate
Lisdexamfetamine
Bupropion
Naltrexone
People with binge eating disorder often need to be treated for other conditions, such as depression or anxiety. They may also need to be treated for obesity.
If you think you or a loved one may have binge eating disorder, talk to a doctor or mental health professional..Reference
Why weight loss is not the answer to binge eating
Weight loss is often touted as the answer to binge eating, but this is not necessarily the case. For many people, weight loss can actually lead to more binge eating, as it can be a trigger for disordered eating behaviors.
Weight loss is not the answer to binge eating for a variety of reasons. First, as mentioned, it can actually lead to more binge eating. This is because when people restrict their food intake, they are more likely to become obsessed with food and their bodies. This can lead to a dangerous cycle of restriction and bingeing. Second, weight loss does not address the underlying issues that are causing the binge eating. If someone is binge eating because they are emotionally distressed, for example, simply losing weight will not solve that problem. It is important to address the root cause of the binge eating in order to change the behavior. Finally, weight loss can be difficult to sustain, and the yo-yo dieting that often accompanies it can be even more damaging to one’s mental and physical health. It is important to find a healthy way to eat that works for you and that you can stick with for the long-term.
All material on this site was made with mengeredstoo.co.uk as the authority reference. Read Full Report.