What is binge eating and how is it treated?

Today it is well known that eating habits have a serious impact on a person’s life. However, people’s eating habits are closely related to their psychology. Overeating is one of the situations in which the strong connection between eating habits and psychology is most easily seen. Binge eating disorder, also known as compulsive overeating, is one of the most common adult eating disorders worldwide. So what is compulsive overeating, which can cause extremely serious psychological and physiological problems, what are its symptoms and treatments? Let’s look at the details together…

What is binge eating?

Binge eating disorder, as the name suggests, is a clinically defined eating problem that refers to a person’s binge eating disorder. People with this eating problem consume much more food than a normal person can eat in a very short time. Moreover, this state of overeating has nothing to do with the feeling of hunger! In other words, people with this disorder may continue to eat even if they are not hungry.

People with binge eating feel relieved when they overeat.

Because binge eating is often a psychological response to emotional and psychological difficulties or problems such as stress and trauma. However, after the act of overeating is completed, people may experience situations such as embarrassment or loss of control.

Binge eating is also a psychological problem, like many other eating disorders.

For this reason, it does not apply to common situations such as giving up eating habits, gaining a few pounds, or not eating much in the evening, and has been clinically determined. It is one of the most common eating disorders among adults worldwide. When left untreated, it can cause more dangerous psychological problems, as well as diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and high cholesterol.

Binge eating disorder is a clinical disorder. Therefore, certain symptoms must appear in order to make a diagnosis.

On the other hand, it should not be confused with “emotional eating disorder” that occurs in states of anxiety, stress, joy, and sadness. Because emotional eating disorder is a non-clinical eating disorder that can occur depending on the intensity of the emotion. However, compulsive overeating has been identified as a clinical condition. Therefore, it has some symptoms that can be observed regularly:

• Eat faster than usual
• Eat Until You Feel Uncomfortable
• Eating large amounts of food without feeling hungry
• Eating alone out of shame is one of the most common symptoms of this syndrome.

However, people with the syndrome often experience feelings of guilt and self-loathing. It can be said that people who exhibit at least three of these symptoms suffer from compulsive overeating.

What are the reasons?

Experts agree that there are many risk factors that can cause the syndrome to occur. These include determinants such as genetics and gender, as well as psychological and environmental factors. However, there is general agreement that psychological factors predominate in the origin of the syndrome. Trauma, self-esteem issues, or other psychological disorders can cause compulsive overeating. However, negative attitudes towards body weight and body shape are among the factors that can trigger the syndrome.

Compulsive overeating can cause many health problems, especially obesity.

The increased risk of weight gain due to the syndrome and resulting obesity can cause serious cardiovascular disease. However, sleep problems, chronic pain, and various psychological disorders are among the problems that can occur with compulsive overeating.

What can be done to overcome the syndrome?

Before proceeding to the stage of clinical treatment, there are some methods that a person can apply himself. For example, keeping a food and mood diary helps to record the triggers for binge eating. This may help the healing process. However, regular sleep and exercise can also be helpful in overcoming the syndrome. On the other hand, changes in daily routine that will promote healthy eating may also be helpful in combating the syndrome.

What are the treatments?

In cases where personal efforts are not enough, it is absolutely necessary to seek help from a specialist. Along with various psychological therapies, drug and weight loss treatments are also extremely common in clinical treatment processes.

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