BED is defined as a pattern of uncontrollable eating of unusually large amounts of food in a short period. Feelings of guilt, humiliation, and psychological suffering may accompany these events.
The symptoms, causes, and health dangers of BED are discussed in this article and how to receive treatment and support to overcome it.
If you are struggling with this health issue, make an appointment at Ocean Recovery now. You can always get more info on this page.
What Is Binge Eating Disorder (BED)?
Binge eating disorder (BED) is a specific form of eating disorder that is now officially recognized. It affects around 2% of the world’s population and can lead to other health problems associated with food, like diabetes and high cholesterol.
Feeding and eating disorders are classified as mental diseases since they are not just related to food. People usually develop coping mechanisms for a more profound issue or a psychological ailment like worry or depression.
Symptoms
-Can you eat when you are not hungry?
-If your answer is NO, you are probably not suffering from BED.
People with binge eating disorders can eat food even when not hungry. In addition, emotional distress and tension may also play a significant role in evolving a binge eating disorder.
During a binge, a person may feel relieved or relieved, but afterward, they may feel ashamed or lose control.
These are the symptoms that must be present in someone for a healthcare provider to diagnose BED; such as:
- Eating faster than the average rate.
- Eating till they are stuffed to the gills.
- Consuming a huge amount of food without feeling hungry.
- Because of humiliation and shame, eating alone.
- Feelings of remorse or disdain towards oneself.
- People with BED frequently express great dissatisfaction and anguish over their eating habits, body shape, and weight.
Causes
BED has been related to a higher risk of obesity, weight gain, and ailments, including diabetes and heart disease. Let’s find out the reasons behind binge eating disorder here:
Genetics
BED patients may have heightened sensitivity to dopamine, a brain neurotransmitter that causes emotions of reward and pleasure. There is also substantial evidence that the condition is passed down through the generations.
Gender
Women are more likely than males to have BED. In the United States, 3.6% of women and 2.0% of men develop BED at some point in their life. This may be related to underlying biological causes.
Changes In The Brain
There are signs that persons with BED may have structural alterations in their brains that cause them to have a stronger reaction to food and less self-control.
Body Size Issues
Obesity affects over half of those with BED, and 25–50% of patients seeking weight loss surgery match the BED criteria. Weight issues can be a cause and a symptom of the binge eating disorder.
Body Image Issues
People who suffer from BED frequently have a poor perception of themselves. Body dissatisfaction, dieting, and overeating all play a role in the disorder’s progression.
Emotional Trauma
Abuse, mortality, being separated from a family member, or being in a vehicle accident are all risk factors of Binge Eating Disorder. Bullying resulting from one’s weight as a child may also lead to BED. Specific phobias, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, anxiety, or drug addiction may also be a reason for this eating disorder.
Health Risks
BED is linked to a number of serious physical, mental, and social health problems. Obesity affects up to 50% of persons with BED. On the other hand, the condition is an independent risk factor for weight gain and obesity. This is related to the higher calorie intake that occurs during binge episodes.
Obesity raises the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and cancer on its own. However, other studies have revealed that persons with BED have an even higher chance of developing these health issues than those who are obese but do not have BED.
Sleep disorders, chronic pain diseases, asthma, and irritable bowel syndrome are among the other health hazards linked to BED.
The disorder has been linked to reproductive issues, pregnancy troubles, and the development of polycystic ovary syndrome in women.
Persons with BED, compared to people without the illness, also report difficulties with social relationships.
In addition, compared to persons who do not have a feeding or eating problem, people with BED have a higher risk of hospitalization, outpatient treatment, and emergency medical visits.
Treatment Options
The course of therapy for BED is determined by the reasons and severity of the eating disorder, as well as the patient’s personal objectives. If you are not ready for a treatment plan right away, you can at least binge healthy food such as crispy imperial rolls, grilled miso fish, seared tuna, etc.
1: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) examines the connections between negative thoughts, feelings, and actions connected to food, body shape, and weight.
Once the origins of unpleasant feelings and patterns are understood, solutions to assist people in modifying them may be established.
Setting objectives, self-monitoring, establishing regular eating patterns, altering beliefs about self and weight, and fostering good weight-control behaviors are all examples of specific CBT treatments.
2: Interpersonal Psychotherapy
According to interpersonal psychotherapy statistics, binge eating is a coping technique for unresolved emotional difficulties such as loss, relational disputes, significant life transitions, or underlying societal problems.
Over 12–16 weeks, this treatment plan tries to discover the exact problem connected to the problematic eating pattern, address it, and then make positive adjustments.
IPT can occur in a group setting or one-on-one with a qualified therapist, frequently paired with CBT.
3: Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
According to dialectical behavior therapy, binge eating is viewed as an emotional reaction to unfavorable situations that a person has no other means of dealing with.
This is why this therapy teaches people how to control their emotional responses so that they can deal with stressful circumstances in everyday life without binging.
Mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness are the four significant treatment areas in DBT.
4: Weight Loss Therapy
Behavioral weight loss therapy seeks to help patients lose weight, which can help them stop binge eating by enhancing their self-esteem and body image.
The goal is to gradually implement healthy lifestyle changes in terms of nutrition and exercise and track food intake and food-related thoughts throughout the day.
While weight-loss treatment has improved body image and reduced weight, it is not as effective as CBT or IPT if we specifically talk about treating binge eating disorders.
Conclusion
Binge eating behaviors can cause excess weight, body image issues, mental health disorders, or a combination of all of these. This is why BED must be the focus of treatment. If you know someone struggling with BED, take them to the doctors right away. For more information, reach us in the comment box below.