Are you also unable to control your eating? Let's learn exactly about Binge Eating Disorder!

We all eat a little too much sometimes, don't we? It's normal to do so at parties, festivals, or when you're out with friends. But do you often find yourself unable to control your eating, eating more even when you're full, and then feeling very sad, ashamed, or guilty about it? Then this story will be very important to you. We're talking about this situation today.

What exactly is Binge Eating Disorder (BED)?

Simply put, Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is a behavioral mental illness. It involves eating large amounts of food in a short period of time, without any control. It's not just an occasional binge. It's something that affects your life on a daily basis and feels like it's controlling you. It can have a big impact on your mind, emotions, and physical health.

Think about it this way. You're not even hungry, but you keep eating. Even though you feel full, you feel like you can't stop. You often do this alone, in secret from others. After you finish eating, you feel disappointed, ashamed, and sad about yourself. If this cycle happens once a week or more, you may have Binge Eating Disorder.

This is a psychological problem that many people have but don't talk about. It affects women as well as men, and it affects young people. So it's important to remember that you are not alone.

Do you also have these symptoms?

Someone with Binge Eating Disorder may experience these symptoms. See if these are familiar to you.

Why does this happen? What are the risk factors?

There is no single reason for this. Usually, a combination of several factors contribute to this.

• Mental and emotional causes: Often, people turn to food to relieve or temporarily forget difficult feelings like stress, anger, sadness, and loneliness. When they eat, the happy hormones like serotonin and dopamine are released in the brain. Although this provides temporary relief, it can become addictive.
• Genetic influence: If someone in your family has an eating disorder or other mental health problem, you are at a slightly higher risk of developing the condition.
• Biological causes: Imbalances in certain chemicals in the brain can also cause difficulty controlling eating.

The table below shows several other risk factors that affect this.

Complications that may occur if left untreated

If you ignore this as just a craving for food, it can lead to many mental and physical problems over time.

• Physical complications: Many health problems can arise, such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, and joint pain.
• Mental complications: Depression and anxiety may increase. There is a tendency to withdraw from society and become lonely. Self-esteem is greatly reduced. In some cases, thoughts of self-harm may even arise.

Is it possible to recover? What are the treatments?

Yes, it is definitely possible! It is not impossible to recover from this. But it takes time and requires professional help. There are three main treatment methods.

1. Psychotherapy

This is the main and most effective treatment for Binge Eating Disorder. It involves talking to a therapist about the underlying thoughts and feelings that are driving your behavior. There are several main methods:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): This teaches you how to identify and change negative thoughts and behaviors that affect your eating patterns.
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Helps you manage strong emotions, cope with stress, and maintain better relationships.
• Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT): Focuses on addressing problems in your personal relationships and the stressors in your life.

2. Medication

In some cases, medications may be needed in addition to psychotherapy. These are not a direct cure for binge eating, but they can help control the underlying causes.

• Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse®): Although this is a medication used to treat ADHD, it has been found to help reduce the impulse control that occurs during binge eating.
• Medications for depression and anxiety: If you have conditions like depression or anxiety, treating them can also help control binge eating.
• Appetite suppressant medications: For some people, a doctor may prescribe short-term appetite suppressant medications.

The most important thing is that all of these medications should only be used under the advice of your doctor.

3. Diet and Nutrition

It is also very important to plan a balanced diet with the advice of a dietitian. The main goal here is not to lose weight. The goal is to get used to a regular eating pattern that provides the body with the necessary nutrition. This can reduce stress about food.

Things you can do to live with this condition

While you seek professional help, these things can help you understand and control yourself.

• Mindful Eating: Pause before and during your meal. Take a deep breath. Are you really hungry? Notice how your body feels. Practice eating slowly, savoring the taste and smell of your food.
• Recognize true hunger: Physical hunger is a feeling of stomach ache, headache, and lack of energy. Emotional hunger is a sudden, intense desire to eat a specific food. Understand the difference between the two.
• Eat when you are hungry: Don't wait until you are hungry and starve yourself to death. If you do, you are more likely to lose control. Eat at the right time.
• Keep a diary: Write down what you eat, when you eat, and how you feel at the time. Over time, you will understand what triggers you to binge eat.
• Avoid triggers: Once you identify your triggers, try to avoid them. Stop bringing certain foods into the house. Avoid situations that increase stress.

When should you see a doctor?

If you have even the slightest suspicion that you or someone you know has an eating disorder, see a doctor as soon as possible. This is nothing to be ashamed of or hide. This is a condition that can be completely cured with treatment.

Often, people with this condition do not want to admit that it is a problem. Therefore, it is very important that we, as family and friends, support them and encourage them to talk about this. Your doctor can give you the guidance you need and refer you to the most appropriate treatment.

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