Binge eating disorder, also known as BED, is a type of eating disorder that affects almost 2% of the population worldwide. It causes an individual to consume large amounts of food in one meal and be unable to stop eating. While most people overeat occasionally, patients of BED tend to overeat frequently. This can pave the way for additional health issues like diabetes and high cholesterol levels. Read on to learn more about the condition.
Symptoms of binge eating disorder
Patients with BED can eat a lot of food in a short time. In most cases, this can be triggered by emotional distress. However, once the symptoms are recognized, one can opt for appropriate treatment and get the condition under control. Hence, here are the common signs of binge eating disorder.
Uncontrolled eating behavior
Rapid eating during episodes
Eating till uncomfortably full
Food-related obsessive thinking
Post-eating feelings of shame or disgust
But while looking out for the above-mentioned symptoms, one must keep in mind that the condition can only be diagnosed when one has three or more of these signs over a period of time.
Causes of binge eating disorder
Although the causes of BED are not quite well understood, it can likely develop due to certain risk factors such as:
Family history
People with a family history of eating disorders are more likely to develop some form of the condition. This means that if an individual’s parents or siblings have or had BED then there are high chances that the person can develop it in the future.
Psychological issues
Healthcare professionals have noticed that people with eating disorders like BED have negative emotions pertaining to themselves. In such cases, the patients can experience triggers that culminate into binge eating episodes. This includes stress, trauma, abuse, anxiety, and more. Some of the other risk factors associated with the condition are societal issues, low self-esteem, and loneliness.
Diagnosis and treatment of binge eating disorder
Diagnosis
In most cases, while diagnosing the condition, healthcare professionals can recommend a psychological evaluation entailing a discussion of one’s eating habits. This can be followed by other tests (urine, blood, and physical examinations) to evaluate the consequences of binge eating disorder, such as diabetes, GERD, and heart issues.
Treatment
One of the most common treatment alternatives for BED is psychotherapy or talk therapy. Here, one can learn how bad eating habits can be exchanged for healthy ones. Some of the examples are as follows:
Cognitive behavioral therapy ( CBT)
This type of therapy helps one examine their behavior, feeling, and thoughts. One must work with the therapist to find structured ways to break the patterns and constructive ways to combat the issues. This can provide one with a better understanding and sense of control over their behavior, gradually regulating eating patterns.
Interpersonal therapy (IPT)
A short-term individual therapy method, IPT aids one in addressing stress factors and current conflicts. Here, the therapist’s work mainly focuses on problem-solving methods rather than diving into one’s past issues. When done properly, this can help improve interpersonal skills and reduce the binge eating episodes that are triggered by unhealthy communication and problematic relationships.
In addition to the above alternatives, one can also opt for dialectal behavioral therapy, which can assist in regulating stress and emotions. This therapy can also help in improving relationships and reducing binge eating desires.
