Binge eating is an eating disorder characterized by uncontrollable episodes of eating. Majority of people often indulges in food from time to time especially during holidays but what sets binge eaters apart is that their eating is uncontrollable and often done in secrecy.

To stop binge eating, several types of treatments are available to help those who have this eating disorder.

Binge eating is common eating disorder that affects many people. This eating disorder is characterized as unusual intake of large amount of food in a regular occurrence. People tend to overeat from time to time especially to events and holidays, however, binge eaters do not just merely overeat once or twice, they habitually overeat and find it hard to control the urge even though they are already full.

Often times, binge eaters have emotional problems and they tend to use food as coping mechanism and emotional escape.

Binge eating is not a psychiatric condition but several treatments are needed to stop binge eating disorder.

What are the Causes of Binge Eating?

The exact cause of binge eating is not really known though there are several factors that may play a major role in developing the habit of binge eating. Some of the possible factors that may cause binge eating may include:

• Biological factors contribute a lot in developing binge eating. Studies show that certain genes that run in the family may make a person more susceptible to binge eating than the others. Low levels of serotonin in the brain may also increase the risk of developing compulsive eating disorder.
• Social factors can also add pressure to develop the urge of over eating. Often times western culture will instill to people that being thin is more attractive, thus adding the pressure and the guilt feeling to indulge and eat secretly like binge eating.
• Psychological factors like depression and stress can lead to binge eating. People who have binge eating habits have problems in managing their moods and may have a hard time in expressing their emotions. Binge eaters may feel a temporary feeling of relief when they are indulging in foods but their feeling of relief is only short lived and may not actually solved their problems.

 

Other risk factors that may lead to binge eating are:

• Female are more prone to develop binge eating
• If binge eating runs in your family, you are at risk of developing it later on.
• Excessive diet may provoke people to develop wrong eating disorders like binge eating.
• Psychological problems like inability to cope with stressful situations may lead to severe depression and anxiety that may lead to binge eating.

 

What are the Symptoms of Binge Eating?

Symptoms of binge eating may include various behaviors and emotional signs. The severity of the symptoms may vary from one person to another. Some of the well-known symptoms of binge eating may include:

• Inability to control eating
• Eating rapidly large quantity of food
• Inability to stop eating even when the stomach is already full
• Eating secretly or hiding food to eat secretly later
• Eating normally with family and friends but indulges in food when alone
• Uses food to comfort or relieved stress
• Do not feel satisfied even after eating excessively
• Developed guilt feeling after overeating
• Desperate to control eating habits

What are the treatments to stop binge eating?

Treatments to stop binge eating are available to help those people who have this eating disorder. Some of the treatments may include:

 

1. Behavioral Therapy

Behavioral therapy is important in treating binge eating disorder. This type of therapy will teach coping skills, regulate emotions and improve interaction with other people thus helping the person to manage emotions and avoid the tendency to overeat.

 

 

 

 

            2. Medications

There is no exact medication prescribed to binge eaters, however, certain type of medications are found to be helpful in alleviating the symptoms of this eating disorder.

 

 

 

 

 

3. Eat a healthy breakfast

Eating a healthy breakfast will decrease your risk of eating disorder. Oftentimes, those who have binge eating disorder are those who skipped breakfast, to avoid this, eat a healthy breakfast is recommended.

 

 

 

 

            4. Drink vitamins

Drinking the right kind of vitamins is essential to make sure that you are gaining the essential nutrients. Over eating does not really mean that you have the nutrients needed. Ask your doctor the right type of vitamins that your body requires.

 

 

 

 

            5. Exercise

Exercise can help in getting the ideal weight. This is also good in managing stress and anxiety. If you are overweight or if you have previous problems to your weight, ask your physician which type of exercise are allowed for you.

 

 

 

 

Binge eating is an eating disorder that requires medical attention. If you feel that you have developed binge eating or you are in the borderline of overeating and binge eating, it is now time to see your health care provider. With proper medical attention and discipline, you can stop binge eating for good.