What is Binge Eating Disorder (BED)?
Binge Eating Disorder describes a series of emotionally-related behaviours where an individual consumes an amount of food or beverages which is substantially above total daily calorie content for a healthy diet.
Often, this is a learned response; which is used as a coping mechanism for dealing with stressful situations in life, such as being in a dysfuntional relationship or coping in a troubled marriage; or being frustrated with not having a job, for example.n Reasons vary.
Food is used as a comfort, in these situations, but the long term consequences are disastrous, and can even lead to an early death.
Are you "eating your emotions" instead of dealing with them?
What the quantity of food or beverages BED consists of varies from person to person, but it is common for overly sweet food products and overly sweet beverages to be included in binge eating behaviour; and often there is asimultaneous intake of a contrasting series of savoury or salty foods.
However, each person suffering with BED may consume a variety of foodstuffs within a short period of time. Sufferers of this conditions report a feeling of being "controlled" by an addiction to eating food, and of being unable to resist eating large quantities at each sitting.
Binge Eating is typically done hurriedly, in private, in secret, sometimes to the point of physical discomfort, repeatedly over a period of time exceeding six months a year..
Often, this is a daily or more times a week habit, but more often, it becomes a habit which is difficult to break.
What are the consequences of prolonged Binge Eating?
Reportedly, sustained for a long period of more than six months during a year, an individual can succumb to "stomach death"; where the stomach swells so much, and grows so big that the cells "die" and eventually the person dies as a result. Ignoring the hunger signals and satiety signals the stomach becomes disabled, ineffiective, redundant, and begins to shut down all biological stimuls responses to food entering and leaving it.
What causes an individual to begin Binge Eating?
The causes vary from person to person. However, common factors include experiencing depression. Sometimes there is a situation which serves as a 'trigger' to commence Binge Eating; such as by having an argument with a partner, which will send an individual straight for the fridge and cupboards to begin Binge Eating.
Even if an individual decides to limit the amount of food items kept in the home, studies show that this does not help, as often individuals will drive or travel to obtain foodstuffs to binge eat.
What can an individual do to change their behavior and end Binge Eating Disorder?
Get help, as soon as you identify that you repeatedly binge eat, in private, in secret, large quantities, eating though you are not hungry. Don't allow it to become a habit.
The Solution:
Talk to your Doctor or physician about getting help, talking to a therapist, or participating in a Treatment Program.
Take a walk if you feel tempted to eat food when you are not hungry.
Read a book, call a friend, go to an exercise class, or go to the gym and workout.
If you prefer to deal with this on your own, try to listen to your hunger signals, and gradually learn how to only eat when you are truly hungry, and to abstain from overeating when you are bored or anxious or feeling depressed or emotionally upset by something in your life. Above all, you can change your habits for the long term, in time, with support and guidance.
You will feel so much better for having done so.
