Binge eating disorder: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

We all indulge in overeating one time or the other. It can be in parties, weekends or holidays. But if you regularly eat too much and feel out of control and unable to stop eating, then you may be suffering from binge eating disorder.
Binge eating is characterised by following key features:
  • Frequent episodes of uncontrolled eating
  • Feeling of sadness or depression after over-eating
  • Eating even when you are not hungry
  • Continued eating even after feeling of fullness
  • You may eat so fast that you may not notice what you are eating
  • There is no attempt to "make up" for over-eating like vomiting, fasting, using laxatives or excessive exercise which happens in Bulimia.
  • Over-eating at least once a week for at least three months
Causes
There are no known causes of binge-eating. However, genetics, long-term dieting, being over-weight and psychological factors may play a role.
Risk factors
Following factors can increase your risk of binge eating:
  • Psychological factors: There is a strong relation between depression and binge eating. It is noted that binge eaters either suffer from depression or had that problem in the past. Other conditions that may lead to binge eating include loneliness, low self-esteem and body dissatisfaction.
  • Biological factors: Researchers have found that certain gene mutations may lead to binge eating or food addiction.
  • Social factors: Social and parental pressure to look slim and trim can add to the depression of binge eaters and fuel their eating habits. Children and teens who experience frequent comments about their bodies and weight also tend to indulge in binge eating.
Symptoms
Binge eating disorder begins in late adolescence or early adulthood. Symptoms include both behavioural and emotional manifestations such as:
  • Consuming unusually large quantity of food
  • Feeling out of control while eating
  • Eating very fast
  • Eating alone or in privacy
  • Eating in average quantity in front of others, but binging when alone
  • Eating continuously during the day without any planned meal times
  • Not satisfied even after eating a lot
  • Feeling ashamed, disgusted, embarrassed, depressed or guilty after overeating
  • Feeling desperate to lose weight and control eating habits
Diagnosis
Psychological analysis and evaluation of eating habits may help in diagnosing binge eating.
A doctor may recommend certain tests to identify the consequences of binge eating disorder such as:
  • Blood test for sugar, lipid and cholesterol levels
  • Physical exam to check blood pressure and heart rate
  • Tests for sleep-related breathing disorders
Treatment
The treatment plan for binge eating includes psychotherapy as well as medication.
Psychotherapy
Different types of psychotherapies used to treat binge eating are:
  • Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
  • Interpersonal psychotherapy
  • Dialectical behaviour therapy
Medications
The conventional medicines used to treat binge eating are:
  • Antidepressants: They can help in treating stress, depression, anxiety and sleeplessness in binge eaters.
  • Anticonvulsant drugs: They are mainly used for treating seizures but have shown improvement of binge eating disorders also.
Lifestyle changes
In addition to medical management, you can adopt certain lifestyle changes to reinforce your treatment plan. This may include:
  • Follow the treatment plan: Stick to your treatment plan. Don't skip medication or therapy sessions. If you have been advised to follow a meal plan, follow it strictly.
  • Don't starve: Try to eat small meals at regular intervals. Don't wait until you are starved, as Starving leads to overeating. Also, skipping meals lead to binge eating later.
  • Stay away from dieting plans: The deprivation that usually comes with dieting triggers food craving and a later urge to overeat. It can trigger more binge eating episodes, leading to a vicious cycle that may become hard to break. Focus on quantity and timing of meals as suggested by the doctor.
  • Keep tempting foods away: Easy access to tempting foods like junk food, desserts and snacks can lead to binge eating. Keep such food items out of your house and limit your exposure to them.
  • Get help from family and friends: Isolating yourself from family and friends will only increase your loneliness and sadness. Talk to your family and friends about your condition and ask for support.
  • Stay active: Regular exercise always helps in improving health. If you are overweight or you have any health problem, you can talk to your doctor about which type of exercise you should do. It will not only help you in losing weight but will also help in managing binge eating.
  • Stay occupied: To avoid snacking due to boredom, keep yourself busy with some hobbies, social activities or reading books.
Complications
Complications that may occur due to binge eating are:
  • Stress and Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Weight Gain and Obesity
  • Low self-esteem
  • Problems related to obesity like joint problems, heart disease, diabetes
  • Poor quality of life
  • Sleep-related disorders
  • Substance abuse
  • Suicidal thoughts
Next steps:
Dealing with eating disorder is not easy as it affects your day to day life. If you are suffering from binge eating disorder, you should visit your doctor on a regular basis for monitoring onset of obesity related disorders and mental disorders.