What is Binge Eating Disorder?
Binge eating disorder is a condition whereby someone consumes too much food in the shortest period of time. The urge to take a large amount of food is overwhelming and one is unable to control it. One may consume more food even when they are not hungry or even after having enough which therefore leads to binge eating disorder. In order to ascertain whether one is suffering from this condition, binge eating disorder test is carried out on the patient to find out if he is suffering from the disorder and supposed to seek for help.
Binge Eating Disorder Causes
Many factors can cause binge eating disorder to an individual among them
Social and Cultural Risk Factors
Most people who suffer from binge eating disorder is due to pressure from other people and most parents to their children. In the majority of cases, binge eating disorder can be due to criticism from people who think that your body image is because you not having enough to eat. In such cases, one can decide to have large amounts of food frequently in secret to add body weight and to boost their self-esteem.
Psychological Risk Factors
Many people who suffer from binge eating disorder are either suffering from depression or have been depressed before. Others are therefore not able to express their feelings and they end up eating more food. Low self-esteem, loneliness, and people who are not satisfied with their bodies take large amounts of food to keep them busy and to hide from the outside world.
Biological Risk Factors
Biological cause of binge eating disorder happens when the part of the brain that controls appetite (hypothalamus) fails to communicate properly with the body one may find themselves eating large amounts of food after a short period. Nearly half of the people who suffer from binge eating disorder are biological. It is a clear proof that the same disorder runs in the family and is likely to be experienced by the coming generation in the family lineage.
Environmental Risk Factors
Binge eating disorder can also be caused by environmental factors. This occurs when a person moves from a harsh environment to a more peaceful place where they are comfortable. They are likely to eat large amounts of food since they are not being bothered by anything.
Binge Eating Disorder Signs and Symptoms
People living with binge eating disorder are likely to feel ashamed of their eating habits. They try as much as possible to hide their eating habits by eating in secret. Signs and symptoms of binge eating disorder can be both emotional and behavioural symptoms.
Behavioural Signs and Symptoms
Inability To Stop Eating – People with binge eating disorder tend to eat a lot of food even when they have taken to their satisfaction. They are not able to control their urge to take more food.
Eating When Full – People who have binge eating disorder are mostly unable to control their eating. They continue eating even when they are full without realizing that they have had enough.
Eating Secretly – People with binge disorder prefer eating alone in secrecy. They don’t want people to know the amount of food they are having frequently. They prefer not to be judged so they eat alone secretly.
Hiding Empty Food Containers – People suffering from binge food disorder are likely to hide empty food containers to avoid people from questioning them about the amount of food they are taking. Frequent trolls from people may lower their self-esteem.
Emotional Signs and Symptoms
Depression – People who have experienced depression or are going through depression are likely to develop bad eating habits like taking too much food over a short period of time. This because they assume that is the only comfort that makes them happy and makes them overcome depression.
Lack Of Control Once One Begins To Eat – When taking too much food becomes a habit one is unable to control it thus leading to binge eating disorder.
Shame – When someone is not grateful for their body size they are likely to develop bad eating habits like taking large amounts of food. This occurs whereby your friends think that you are too thin and need to add more weight. Such comments may make you turn to be a binge eater.
Binge Eating Disorder Test
One can find out if they have suffered from this condition by conducting binge eating disorder selftest. One can ask themselves various questions to find out if they have the disorder. The answer to that question will act as binge eating disorder self treatment. Such questions may include
Do I eat too much food frequently? If the answer to this question is yes you will find a way of dealing with eating too much.
Do I continue eating even when am full? Someone may find out they are having binge eating disorder when they find out that even after having enough food they continue eating more food.
Do I always think about food every time? One can experience binge eating disorder if they always think about food even when it’s not eating time.
Do I eat in secret? Eating in secret is one way of finding out that one has a binge eating disorder. This to avoid people finding out the amount of food they are eating.
Binge Eating Disorder Treatment
Binge eating disorder is a serious mental illness that can be treated if detected in its early stages. It can be treated in the following ways
- Going To See A Doctor – Visiting a doctor could ascertain by conducting a binge eating disorder test if the condition is present and provide a solution. To reduce the disorder. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is administered to the binge eater. The therapy helps the eater to deal positively with the thoughts and feelings that lead to binge eating disorder
- Self Help and Support Groups – In this case, binge eating disorder self-treatment can be administered by one avoiding things that make you a binge eater. Try as much as possible to indulge in activities that help you forget about food. Engaging in conversations with people who have binge eating disorder can help you manage your eating habits.
- Vyvanse For Binge Eating Disorder – This is the first medication that is administered to people with binge eating disorder. This is only approved for a medication that can treat both severe and mild binge eating disorder. Vyvanse only becomes effective if recommended by a doctor or a healthcare professional and therefore cannot be used to treat obesity.
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