Binge Eating Disorder ( Awareness)
Hey everyone, in this post I would like to raise awareness regarding a very common yet underlooked Eating Disorder known as Binge Eating order (BED).
What is a Binge Eating Disorder?
A Binge-Eating Disorder is a type of Eating Disorder, Binge-eating disorder is a serious eating disorder in which you frequently consume unusually large amounts of food and feel unable to stop eating. Almost everyone overeats on occasion, such as having seconds or thirds of a holiday meal. But for some people, excessive overeating that feels out of control and becomes a regular occurrence crosses the line to binge-eating disorder.When you have binge-eating disorder, you may be embarrassed about overeating and vow to stop. But you feel such a compulsion that you can't resist the urges and continue binge eating.
What are the symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder?
Behavioral symptoms
Inability to stop eating or control what youre eating
Rapidly eating large amounts of food
Eating even when you're full
Hiding or stockpiling food to eat later in secret
Eating normally around others, but gorging when youre alone
Eating continuously throughout the day, with no planned mealtimes
Emotional symptoms
Feeling stress or tension that is only relieved by eating
Embarrassment over how much youre eating
Feeling numb while bingeing—like youre not really there or youre on auto-pilot.
Never feeling satisfied, no matter how much you eat
Feeling guilty, disgusted, or depressed after overeating
Desperation to control weight and eating habits
What factors can influence a Binge Eating Disorder?
Factors that can increase your risk of developing binge-eating disorder include:
- Family history. You're much more likely to have an eating disorder if your parents or siblings have (or had) an eating disorder. This may indicate that inherited genes increase the risk of developing an eating disorder.
-Psychological issues. Most people who have binge-eating disorder feel negative about themselves and their skills and accomplishments. Triggers for bingeing can include stress, poor body self-image, food and boredom.
- Dieting. Many people with binge-eating disorder have a history of dieting — some have dieted to excess dating back to childhood. Dieting or restricting calories during the day may trigger an urge to binge eat, especially if you have low self-esteem and symptoms of depression.
-Your age. Although people of any age can have binge-eating disorder, it often begins in the late teens or early 20s.
Tips for helping a person with Binge Eating Disorder
-Encourage him or her to seek help. The longer an eating disorder remains undiagnosed and untreated, the more difficult it will be to overcome, so urge your loved one to get treatment.
-Be supportive. Try to listen without judgment and make sure the person knows you care. If your loved one slips up on the road to recovery, remind them that it doesnt mean they cant quit binge eating for good.
-Avoid lectures or guilt trips. Binge eaters feel bad enough about themselves and their behaviour already. Lecturing, getting upset, or issuing ultimatums to a binge eater will only increase stress and make the situation worse. Instead, make it clear that you care about the persons health and happiness and youll continue to be there.
-Set a good example by eating healthily, exercising, and managing stress without food. Dont make negative comments about your own body or anyone elses.
Now that I have explained the Eating Disorder, its symptoms and factors that can influence it, let's have a discussion below on it by answering the questions given below:
1)What does your Binge Eating Disorder look like?
2)When did you develop Binge Eating Disorder?
3)What factors might have influenced your Binge Eating Disorder?
4)How does your Binge Eating Disorder affects your mental health?
5)Have you found any coping techniques that might have helped you regarding this?
Thank you all for reading, Please answer the questions given above by replying to the forum post
Some Helpful links:
-Binge eating support groups:
International Eating Disorder Support
Hi I am new to this but have come to the realisation that I do experience Binge Eating Disorder.
1)What does your Binge Eating Disorder look like?
I feel compelled to eat a large amount of 'junk food' during the course of a day... for instance I might eat a whole tub of ice cream then several packets of crisps... then chocolate... I tend to go for sweet foods, then salty, then back to sweet etc. I don't know what sets it off but a bad day at work can be a trigger
2)When did you develop Binge Eating Disorder?
Had it most of my life... I remember as a child stealing food from the kitchen and taking it up to my room to eat in secret
3)What factors might have influenced your Binge Eating Disorder?
My mum having a breakdown and attempting suicide when I was a child (luckily not succeeding), my parent's subsequent divorce and not having a great relationship with my stepdad (a bully who puts me down constantly even now I am in my 40s and makes a big deal of making fun of my weight), bullied at school and college for being 'different' and then being diagnosed with autism later in life, never being able to form a relationship but then feeling lonely, having a stressful job I don't enjoy...
4)How does your Binge Eating Disorder affects your mental health?
Makes me feel weak and out of control and increases my insecurity and poor self esteem... I dread anyone finding out as it is my 'dirty little secret'
5)Have you found any coping techniques that might have helped you regarding this?
Not really... some days I am able to talk myself out of a binge but not always... exercise helps but I have to be careful not to start thinking I can exercise off what I have eaten
@fairmindedTurtle2495 - Thank you for sharing - I know it's not always easy to talk about, particularly when you've internalized it as a "dirty little secret", but I think it's a good step to open up and I hope you know that you are not alone and this is not something you need to be ashamed of, but something that you deserve support with.
You said that some days you're able to talk yourself out of a binge, but not always - that sounds to me like a really great start. What do you think makes the difference on days when you can and days you cannot? Are there patterns in the days (or times or whatever else) that are hardest? I think often finding those patterns can help also think about ways to work on it.
If you need a safe place to talk about all of this, these forums are a good option and you are always welcome to message me. I'd love to help support you.
Take care!
@Anomalia- thanks, it isn't easy to admit it to myself but it is time I faced up to it.... the times I have managed to talk myself out of it I have gone to the shops to buy junk food and have thought to myself how bad I will feel afterwards and have left the shop without buying anything.
Other times I have tried to identify what it is I am actually craving. A few times it has been a particular type of chocolate bar so I have bought a small size one, eaten it slowly and been satisfied.
I will look for patterns as can't think of any right now, although it is harder to resist in the days before my period as I crave sweet things. Thanks for your support, I appreciate it.
