BackDo you binge-eat?
A binge-eater is usually ashamed and embarrassed about overeatingbut the compulsion to eat is overpowering
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Binge-eating disorder is a serious condition characterized by uncontrollable eating resulting in weight gain. Everyone occasionally overeats—we help ourselves to seconds, and even thirds during festival days, at weddings, and sometimes for no apparent reason. Does this mean you are a binge-eater? Not necessarily. You have the binge-eating disorder only when this kind of eating becomes a regular pattern, not a sporadic occurrence. People with this disorder frequently eat large amounts of food, even when they are not hungry, because they have no control. It tends to be more of an urban phenomenon, prevalent in young girls.
The binge-eater is usually ashamed and embarrassed about overeating—but the compulsion to eat is overpowering.
Bingeing behaviour is similar to bulimia nervosa, but people with the binge-eating disorder do not engage in purging by vomiting or using laxatives.
Why do people binge?
Many people who have the disorder use food as a way to cope with uncomfortable feelings and emotions like stress or anxiety. They believe that food can comfort and soothe. Unfortunately, this backfires, for they often end up feeling sad and guilty about not being able to control their eating. This fuels their stress levels, making it a vicious cycle.
Sometimes, they consume as many as 10,000 calories in one go, which is more than thrice the amount of calories a healthy adult should consume in a day.
More often than not, most binge-eaters would have had at least a few of these symptoms for a few weeks:
u Frequent episodes of eating what others would consider an abnormally large amount of food
u Being unable to control what or how much is being eaten, and therefore being overweight or even obese
u Eating much faster than usual
u Eating way beyond feeling full
u Reaching out for food even when not hungry
u A feeling of self blame, which further lowers self-esteem.
Sadly, the exact cause of the disorder is still not known. Most likely, as in other eating disorders, it is the result of a combination of psychological, biological, and environmental factors.
The disorder has also been linked to mental health disorders. Many people with this disorder have been found to have a history of depression, anger management issues, or anxiety disorders. This eating disorder can also be familial, suggesting that it may be an inherited trait. Families that put an unnatural emphasis on food, like using it to reward or comfort, can inadvertently cause a person to turn into a binge-eater.
Treatment is possible only if the condition is identified. This can be difficult because those affected by this condition are often ashamed to admit they have a problem. Often, even close family members and friends don’t know they binge-eat.
Anybody who suspects they may have this disorder should seek medical help as soon as possible. It is also imperative to have healthy eating habits and a realistic body image. Keep a food diary which may help identify eating patterns, or types of food, which tend to trigger a sudden and false sense of hunger. To keep blood-sugar levels constant, eat small meals every couple of hours so there is no tendency to overeat. Avoid refined, sugar-filled foods, alcohol and caffeine; they can cause drastic fluctuations in blood-sugar levels, eventually leading to binge-eating.
Paediatricians should keenly observe weight fluctuations and behavioural patterns in children since eating disorders start at a fairly young age. Regardless of body size or shape, parents should encourage a healthy body image in their children.
The UK government’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends the following therapies for eating disorders:
Psychotherapy: This type of individual counselling focuses on changing the thinking and behaviour of a person with an eating disorder. The therapist helps the patient seek new ways to interpret and deal with difficult situations, feelings and food.
Medication: Certain antidepressant medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors can be used to help control anxiety and depression, often associated with an eating disorder.
Weight control: An overweight person should follow a weight-loss plan set up by a qualified nutritionist but more importantly, the psychological aspect of weight gain needs to be addressed.
The major complications of the disorder are conditions that often result from being obese. These include diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, sleep apnoea and shortness of breath.
So seek help as quickly as possible.
Vishakha Shivdasani is a Mumbai-based medical doctor with a fellowship in nutrition. She specializes in controlling diabetes, cholesterol and obesity.
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