Ever Heard of Binge Eating Disorder?

Most people have overindulged at some point in their lives, especially at a special occasion or holiday. but what is binge eating disorder (BED)? It is defined as consuming large amounts of food in a short period of time, even when not hungry, and to the point of discomfort. Almost everyone overeats from time to time, but it can potentially develop into a condition. It affects around 2% of the world’s population and can lead to other health problems associated to food, such as high cholesterol and diabetes.

In addition to eating huge amounts of food in excess and to the point of pain, the syndrome is distinguished by a sense of being out of control when eating and a sense of shame or guilt over the practice. Unlike bulimia, you do not try to force yourself to vomit, take laxatives, or exercise excessively after a binge.

Feeding and eating disorders are not only about food, which is why they are classified as mental diseases. People usually develop them to cope with a deeper issue or another psychological disorder, such as worry or depression.

Binge eating episodes may have a major and detrimental influence on your health and well-being, making it extremely important to recognize the symptoms of binge eating and get treatment if necessary.

What Causes Binge Eating Disorder?

The causes of BED are unknown, although it is most likely caused by a combination of risk factors, including:

Genetics

People with BED may be more sensitive to dopamine, a neurotransmitter in the brain that is known for emotions of reward and pleasure. There is also compelling evidence that the condition is heritable.

Gender

Females are more likely than males to have BED. In the United States, 3.6 percent of women and 2 percent of men have BED at some point in their life. This might be due to underlying biological causes.

Abnormalities in Brain Structure

There is evidence that patients with BED may have changes in brain structure, resulting in a heightened reaction to food and reduced self-control.

Body Mass Index

Obesity affects over half of persons with BED, and 25–50% of patients seeking weight loss surgery satisfy the BED criteria. Weight issues can be both a cause and a symptom of the illness.

Image of Oneself

People who have BED frequently have a very unfavorable body image. Body dissatisfaction, dieting, and overeating all contribute to the disorder’s development.

Emotional Distress

Life experiences that are stressful, such as abuse, death, the separation of a family member, or a vehicle accident, are risk factors. Childhood bullying because of weight may also have a role.

Obsessive Eating

Those affected frequently describe a history of binge eating as the disorder’s initial symptom. This involves binge eating during childhood and adolescence.

Other Psychological Issues

Almost 80% of patients with BED also have at least one additional psychiatric condition such as phobias, depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, anxiety, or drug misuse.

Symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder

The majority of persons who suffer from binge eating disorder are overweight or obese, although they might also be of normal weight. The following are behavioral and emotional indications and symptoms of binge eating disorder:

• Eating exceptionally enormous amounts of food in a short period of time, such as two hours
• You have the impression that your eating habits are out of control.
• Eating even if you’re neither hungry or full
• During binge episodes, you eat quickly
• Consuming food until you feel uncomfortably stuffed
• On a regular basis, eating alone or in secret.
• Feeling down, disgusted, humiliated, guilty, or unhappy about your eating habits
• Dieting on a regular basis, maybe without achieving weight reduction

Treating Binge Eating Disorder

The treatment approach for BED is determined by the causes and severity of the eating disorder, as well as the patient’s own objectives. Treatment may focus on binge eating, obesity, body image, mental health concerns, or a mix of these.

Cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, dialectical behavior therapy, weight loss therapy, and medication are all available as treatment options. These can be done one-to-one, in a group environment, or in a self-help manner.

Cognitive Behavioral Treatment (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) for BED examines the connections between negative thoughts, feelings, and actions linked to eating, body shape, and weight.

Once the causes of unpleasant feelings and patterns have been recognized, solutions to assist people alter them may be established.

Setting objectives, self-monitoring, attaining regular eating patterns, altering beliefs about self and weight, and fostering good weight-control practices are some of the specific therapies.

Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)

IPT is founded on the premise that binge eating is a coping technique for unresolved personal difficulties such as loss, relational disputes, big life transitions, or underlying social problems.

The objective is to identify the exact problem associated with the problematic eating habit, address it, and then make positive adjustments over a period of 12–16 weeks.

Therapy can take place in a group setting or one-on-one with a skilled therapist, and it is sometimes paired with CBT. It may be especially beneficial for persons who suffer from severe binge eating and have low self-esteem.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Binge eating is viewed as an emotional reaction to unfavorable situations that the person has no other means of coping with in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). It teaches people how to control their emotional responses so that they can deal with stressful events in their daily lives without overeating.

DBT treatment focuses on four critical areas: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness, however, there is little data on DBT’s long-term efficacy and how therapy compares to CBT and IPT. While research on this therapy is promising, additional study is needed to discover whether it can be used for all persons suffering with BED.

Behavioral Weight Loss Therapy

Behavioral weight loss treatment is intended to assist patients in losing weight, which may minimize binge eating behavior by boosting self-esteem and body image.

The goal is to make progressive healthy lifestyle adjustments in terms of nutrition and exercise, as well as to track food intake and food-related thoughts throughout the day.

While weight loss treatment may assist improve body image, lower weight, and lessen the health concerns associated with obesity, it has not been demonstrated to be as effective at preventing binge eating as CBT or IPT.

Behavioral weight loss therapy, like conventional weight reduction treatment for obesity, has been demonstrated to assist patients achieve just short-term, modest weight loss.

Medications

Several drugs have been discovered to treat binge eating and are frequently less expensive and quicker than traditional therapy, however, no current drugs are as successful as behavioral therapy in treating BED.

Antidepressants, antiepileptic medicines such as topiramate and pharmaceuticals normally used to treat hyperactivity problems such as lisdexamfetamine are among the treatments available.

Binge Eating Complications

Binge-eating disorder can lead to the following complications:

• Functioning issues at work, in your personal life, or in social situations
• Isolation from others
• Depression
• Manic-depressive illness
• Anxiety
• Substance abuse problems
• Obesity: Obesity-related medical concerns such as joint difficulties, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and various sleep-related respiratory abnormalities.

Key Facts About Binge Eating Disorder

Binge eating disorder is shockingly frequent in Westernized societies where many people indulge in binge eating habits but dismiss them as “emotional eating” or mistake them for good coping techniques. The National Institute on Mental Health has released some crucial information regarding BED prevalence and impact:

• BED disorder affects 1.2 percent of individuals in the United States.
• Females (1.6%) are twice as likely as males (0.8%) to have BED
• According to research, 62.6% of persons with BED have impairment in their everyday lives, with 18.5% experiencing severe impairment.
• 43.6 % of those with BED seek therapy, with women receiving treatment more than males.
• BED affects 1.6% of teens.
• BED affects African Americans just as often as white people, but additional study is needed to determine its influence on other racial and ethnic groups.
• A concomitant mental health illness affects 78.9% of persons with BED.
• Anxiety, mood, impulse control, and drug use disorders are all common co-occurring illnesses with BED