Binge eating is an often misunderstood and underestimated eating disorder that affects many people's lives. It is a complex disease that requires awareness, understanding and appropriate care. Help is available.
What is binge eating disorder?
Binge eating disorder is characterized by episodes where a person eats large amounts of food in a short period of time and feels unable to control how much they eat. It differs from other eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia, but is equally as serious.
Symptoms of binge eating
- Eating large amounts of food without feeling physically hungry
- Feelings of shame, guilt or depression after eating
- Eating alone because of shame over eating large amounts
- Loss of control over food intake during periods of binge eating
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Causes and risk factors
Binge eating is often a way of dealing with emotional concerns and stress. Factors that can contribute to binge eating include genetics, psychological factors and social influences.
Management of binge eating
- Identifying and managing triggering emotions
- Creating a healthy relationship with food
- Seeking professional help from a psychologist
The psychologist’s role in treatment
A psychologist can play a crucial role in treating binge eating. Through therapy, you can explore the underlying causes of your eating disorder and develop new positive coping strategies.
Treatment methods
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
- Nutritional therapy
Support for loved ones
If you know someone who is struggling with binge eating, it is important to offer support and understanding. Encouraging them to seek professional help can be a first step towards recovery. As the eating disorder is often a symptom of deeper psychological concerns, it is important not to focus solely on the binge eating. To make an analogy, we can think of it as an extreme version of nail biting. Nail biting can be a bad habit, but it can also be a coping behaviour that indicates that someone is stressed or nervous. An empathetic response to someone’s nervous nail biting is to try to ask the person what is causing their nervousness, not to tell them that they are ruining their nails. Similarly, you can approach someone’s binge eating with the understanding that it may be a symptom of them dealing with something else through the behaviour.
How you can help
- Show understanding and empathy
- Avoid commenting on their eating habits or weight
- Support them in seeking professional help
Binge eating is not only a physical challenge, but also a psychological and emotional struggle. To understand this eating disorder, it is important to take a closer look at its different aspects.
Psychological aspects of binge eating
Binge eating is often linked to deeper psychological concerns. Therefore, emotions such as anxiety, depression and low self-esteem can influence binge eating behavior.
Examples of emotional triggers:
- Stress and anxiety
- Feelings of inadequacy or low self-esteem
- Traumatic experiences
Physical consequences
Binge eating can lead to various physical health concerns, such as digestive problems, weight fluctuations, and increased risk of chronic diseases such as:
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
Social influences
Social factors, such as body image and the stigma surrounding eating disorders, can contribute to the development of binge eating. Therefore, it is important to create a more accepting and understanding social environment.
The road to recovery
Dealing with binge eating requires a combination of psychological therapy, nutritional therapy and support from loved ones. Each individual’s path to recovery is unique, but it usually involves these initial steps:
- Recognizing the problem: Accepting that you have an eating disorder is the first step.
- Seeking professional help: Therapy and counselling are crucial to recovery.
- Building a support system: Friends and family can offer invaluable emotional support.
- Develop healthy habits: Create a balanced relationship with food and exercise.
Binge eating disorder is a complex condition that requires empathy, understanding and professional help. Therefore, we want to help spread awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding eating disorders. Hopefully by doing so, we can help more people find their way to recovery.
If you or someone you know is suffering from binge eating disorder, remember that there is help and hope. You are not alone. At Lavendla, we have made it simple to get in touch with a psychologist or therapist to talk more about your path to recovery. Together, we can make the difficult easier.
12 common questions and answers about binge eating disorder
What is binge eating?
Binge eating is an eating behaviour where a person eats an unusually large amount of food over a short period of time, often to the point of feeling sick. It differs from bulimia because it is not followed by compensatory behaviors such as vomiting. However, binge eating is still a form of eating disorder.
How common is binge eating?
Research shows that binge eating disorder is the most common eating disorder, affecting around 2-3% of the population globally. In Canada, around 2.7 million people are impacted by eating disorders.
Why do I eat too much?
Overeating can be due to several factors, including emotional stress, psychological concerns or as a reaction to strict diets. It is important to understand that overeating is often a negative coping mechanism.
What does it mean to have bulimia?
Bulimia is an eating disorder characterized by periods of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviours such as vomiting, fasting or excessive exercise to prevent weight gain.
Why do I never feel full?
A feeling of never being full can be related to psychological factors, such as emotional emptiness, or biological factors such as hormonal imbalances.
Can binge eating lead to weight gain?
Yes, regular binge eating can lead to weight gain as the body takes in more calories than it can burn.
Is binge eating linked to mental health problems?
Binge eating can be linked to mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression and low self-esteem.
How do I know if I have binge eating disorder?
If you regularly eat large amounts of food and feel that you cannot control your eating behaviour, it may be a sign of binge eating disorder. A healthcare provider can assess and diagnose binge eating disorder.
Can binge eating be treated?
Yes, with the right treatment and support, people with binge eating disorder can learn to manage their eating behaviour and develop a healthier relationship with food.
What treatment options are available for binge eating?
Treatment can include therapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, medication and support groups. It is important to find a treatment plan that suits the individual.
How can I help someone with binge eating?
Show understanding and support. Binge eating is a form of emotion management, so it is important to encourage people to seek professional help and listen without judgment.
Does binge eating affect physical health?
Yes, binge eating can lead to health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
How can I deal with binge eating?
Start by seeking professional help. Learn to recognize and manage triggers and develop healthy eating habits. As our psychologists and therapists can give you an idea of how to deal with binge eating, we recommend an initial consultation when you feel ready.
Are binge eating and emotional eating the same thing?
No, but they can overlap. As emotional eating is eating in response to emotions rather than hunger, it can sometimes lead to binge eating.
Where can I find more information and support?
A psychologist or therapist can give you guidance, advice and recommendations on how to start treatment. Therefore, we recommend that you have an initial conversation with us at Lavendla about how to move towards treatment.
Is there a link between binge eating and sleep problems?
Yes, studies have shown that there may be a link between binge eating and sleep problems. Sleep deprivation can affect hunger and satiety hormones, which can lead to increased hunger and the risk of binge eating.
Can stress cause binge eating?
Stress is a common trigger for binge eating. When we are stressed, the body may look for ways to deal with the emotion, sometimes leading to binge eating as a form of emotional support to relieve stress.
What is the difference between binge eating disorder and other eating disorders?
Binge eating disorder is different from other eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. In binge eating disorder, there are not the same weight control behaviours, such as excessive exercise or vomiting, that often occur in bulimia.
How can I prevent binge eating?
Prevention of binge eating can include establishing regular and balanced eating habits, learning to manage stress and emotions in a healthy way, and avoiding strict diets that can lead to binge eating. It is also important to build a positive body image and work on increasing self-esteem.
Does exercise play a role in managing binge eating?
Yes, regular exercise can be an effective part of treating binge eating. It can help improve mood, reduce stress and anxiety, and help regulate the body’s hunger and satiety signals. However, it is important that exercise is balanced and not used as a way to compensate for binge eating.
Steps for managing binge eating disorder
As binge eating disorder is a complex and sensitive process, treatment requires understanding, patience and often professional help. Below is a list of steps that can help you or someone you know begin the process of dealing with this condition:
1. Understand the nature of the problem
Understand when and why your binge eating occurs. This can include noticing emotional triggers, such as stress or anxiety. Learn about how binge eating affects both your body and mind.
2. Seek professional help
Find a psychologist or therapist who has experience with eating disorders as they can help point you in the right direction for long-term treatment. Be open and honest about your challenges and goals during your first meeting.
3. Create a personalized treatment plan
Together with your therapist, set realistic and measurable goals for your improvement. Work with your therapist to develop strategies for dealing with triggers and difficult situations.
4. Improve your lifestyle
Work with a nutritionist to create a healthy and balanced diet plan. Integrate physical activity into your daily routine to improve both physical and mental health.
5. Continuous follow-up and support
Regular meetings with the therapist can help to evaluate progress and adjust goals. Talk to family and friends about your challenges and ask for their support.
6. Learn self-esteem and self-care
Work on strengthening your self-esteem and self-image. Use techniques such as mindfulness and relaxation to manage stress and anxiety.
7. Understand that recovery takes time
Understand that recovery is a process that can take time. Learn to deal with setbacks in a healthy way with the help of your therapist.
Remember that you are not alone, and seeking help is a sign of strength.
Lavendla does not offer full treatments for complex eating disorders, but you are always welcome to get in touch with our qualified psychologists and therapists who can help you on your journey. We make the difficult easier.
