What is binge eating?
Binge eating, also called compulsive overeating, is different from normal appetite increases or overeating now and then. People with a binge eating problem eat unusually large amounts of food and don't stop eating when they become full. They binge not just from time to time, but regularly. And binge eating involves more than just eating a lot - with binge eating, a person feels out of control and powerless to stop eating while she's doing it. That's why binge eating is also called compulsive overeating. With binge eating, a person may feel a compulsion (a powerful urge) to overeat.
Why do some people get binge eating?
Sufferers with a binge eating problem may overeat when they feel stressed, upset, hurt, or angry. Many find it comforting and soothing to eat food, but after a binge they are likely to feel incredibly guilty and sad about the out-of-control eating. Teens who binge eat may do so to deal with (or avoid dealing with) difficult emotions. For this reason, some say binge eating is about having an unhealthy relationship with food.
What are the cause of the disease?
There is no known single cause for binge eating. Most experts believe that a combination of factors is responsible, including biology, emotional issues, and learned behaviors.
Experts believe that some people may be more prone to overeating because the hypothalamus ,the part of the brain that controls appetite, may fail to send proper messages about hunger and fullness. Serotonin, a normal brain chemical that affects mood and some compulsive behaviors, may also play a role in binge eating. These are some of the biological factors that may make someone more likely to have a binge eating problem.
Patterns of overeating often begin in childhood, sometimes as a result of unhealthy eating habits learned in the family. It's normal to associate food with nurturing and love. But in some families, food may be overused as a way to soothe or comfort. When this is the case, kids may grow up with a habit of overeating to soothe themselves when they're under stress because they may not have learned healthier ways to deal with stress. Some kids may grow up believing that unhappy or upsetting feelings should be suppressed, and may use food to quiet unsettling feelings rather than express them. These are some of the ways emotions and learning may play a role in binge eating.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms?
Binge eating is defined as eating more food than most people would eat in a short period of time (such as 2 hours), while feeling a lack of control over eating. Someone is said to have a binge eating disorder if the binge eating happens frequently (at least twice a week), continues over a period of time (at least 6 months), and causes distress or problems in the person's life. Teens who have a binge eating problem may do the following:
* eat much more rapidly than normal
* eat until uncomfortably full
* eat large amounts of food even when not hungry
* eat alone because of embarrassment
* feel disgusted with themselves or depressed or guilty after a binge eating episode
* gain weight excessively
The Problem With Binge Eating
Binge eating can lead to other problems, too - such as weight gain, unhealthy dieting, and emotional distress.
Weight Gain
Gaining weight is a natural consequence of regular binge eating. Most people who binge eat are overweight, and over time many become obese. Being overweight may make someone more prone to health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, joint problems, and breathlessness. And being overweight as a kid or teen makes it more likely that someone will be overweight or obese as an adult. Not all people who are overweight have a binge eating problem - but many do.
Unhealthy Dieting
Concerns about weight gain may lead teens who binge eat to diet. Extreme diets and yo-yo dieting (a pattern of repeatedly losing and then regaining weight) have their own health risks, especially for teens. Plus, dieting may make teens so hungry that they end up bingeing again.
Emotional Distress
Regular binge eating may lead to low energy, low self-esteem, or depression. Feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, or worthlessness may surface when a teen feels little control to put the brakes on overeating. These painful feelings may make the binge eating worse and can spill over into other areas of a teen's life. Some teens who binge eat don't have the coping skills to express or tolerate difficult emotions. When eating is used as a way to deal with (or not deal with) emotions, a teen may be less likely to learn and practice healthier coping skills.
How cais binge eating treated
It's common for binge eating to begin during the teen years, even though many people don't get treatment for the problem until they are adults. Often people get treatment because they are seeking help to lose weight. In most cases, unhealthy overeating habits that are part of a binge eating pattern start during childhood. The sooner someone with a binge eating problem receives treatment, the better, because some of the long-term health problems associated with binge eating and with being overweight can be reduced or eliminated.
Teens can start to get help with binge eating by letting a trusted adult know about the problem. Many teens who binge eat consider going on extreme diets, but this is not a healthy practice and can lead to additional health concerns. A checkup with a doctor is an important first step in having an overeating problem evaluated and getting guidance on how to lose weight safely. In addition to asking questions about eating habits, a doctor may ask about feelings about school, parents, and other aspects of life. The doctor may also check a teen's overall health and nutritional status.
Nutrition specialists or dietitians can help teens learn about healthy eating behaviors, nutritional needs, portion sizes, metabolism, and exercise. They can also help teens design an eating plan that's structured and specific and monitor their progress. Psychologists and other therapists can help teens understand the connections between emotions, thoughts, and eating behaviors, and can help teens begin to control binge eating. Therapists can also help teens learn healthy ways to respond to stress and deal with compulsions.
If a teen is depressed, taking care of the depression will be an important part of the therapy. For some teens, antidepressant medications might be prescribed along with therapy. Sometimes certain family members can be a big help by talking with the teen and her therapist about shared eating patterns, feelings (and beliefs about how feelings should be expressed), and family relationships. Doing this can help a teen to examine some of the eating patterns that may have been influenced by her family - and to shed the patterns that she no longer wants to practice. A variety of health professionals often work together to help teens meet their individual goals for managing eating, weight, and feelings.
As with any eating disorder, there is no quick fix for binge eating. Treatment can take several months or longer while a teen learns a healthier approach to food.
How long can binge eating last?
Binge eating can create a severe and obvious effect on ones mental and physical health. The sooner you go seek for advice and help the faster you will recover in most cases. It is often easier to find a solution at the beginning of the course of bulimia rather than the end for it might have already caused a great effect on your physical and mental health.
What can people with binge eating do to help themselves
If you're a teen with a binge eating problem, you may feel that the temptations of overeating are always present. Unlike a problem with drugs, alcohol, or smoking, in which part of the treatment is avoiding the substance altogether, teens still have to eat. So part of dealing with a binge eating disorder is learning how to have a healthy relationship with food.
If you're dealing with binge eating, you may find it helpful to surround yourself with supportive family members and friends. Critical comments and judgments from others about eating are rarely helpful and usually add to a teen's feelings of self-criticism, making matters worse. Trying a new extracurricular activity or hobby is a great way to meet people, have some fun, and boost your self-esteem. Finding a way to express your feelings, whether through conversation, music, art, dance, or writing, can also be helpful.
Help is available for teens who have problems with binge eating. With the right guidance, commitment, and practice, it is possible to overcome old habits and replace them with healthier behaviors. Teens can overcome overeating and enjoy eating without having food control their lives.
