Binge-eating disorder

With this condition, a person regularly overeats to cope with low self-esteem and misery, although in fact the persistent, uncontrolled binge eating makes depression and anxiety worse.

What is it?

A person with binge-eating disorder regularly eats large amounts quickly when not hungry, alone or secretly, and feels shame and self-disgust after a binge. They feel they have no control over how much and how often they eat. Low self-esteem, depression,
anxiety, stress, anger, boredom, loneliness, dissatisfaction with the body, pressure to be thin, traumatic events, and a family history of eating disorders are all factors that increase the risk of developing it. The disorder can also develop after the person follows such a strict diet that they are left very hungry and have food cravings. It is the most common eating disorder in the US. A GP may diagnose the disorder
from the person’s weight gain—the most common physical effect.

Bingeing cycle

People with a bingeeating disorder are using food as an instant, albeit negative, way to relieve emotional pain instead of finding positive methods of tackling the underlying cause. The result is a perpetual cycle of eating, relief, depression, and yet more eating.

Anxiety rises and depression sets in as eating provides only short-lived “pain” relief.

Relief from increasingly
distressing feelings comes only with thoughts of food.

The need to eat to
relieve depression grows in urgency; the person plans a binge, often
buying special foods for that purpose.

The person eats large
amounts of food rapidly (regardless of degree of hunger), often in secret, may be in a dazed state while eating, and may
feel uncomfortably full afterward.

Anxiety drops as eating temporarily numbs the feelings of stress, sadness, or anger.

Low mood returns with self-disgust
because of the guilt
and shame associated with binge eating.

TREATMENT

❯ Psychotherapy in groups or one-on-one.

❯ Self-help programs through books, in online courses, as part of a support group, or supervised by a health professional.

❯ Antidepressants prescribed along with therapy.