Binge Eating Disorder

III. Binge Eating Disorder

 

Binge Eating Disorder, also known as overeating or compulsive overeating, is a Feeding and Eating Disorder as per the DSM-V. This category comes under a broader category of psychiatric disorders as overeating or restrictive eating becomes a way of coping with other stresses of life and has a deep underlying cause. They could either be dealing with a psychological issue or another psychological condition such as anxiety or depression. BED is diagnosed in the late teens or early 20s. It could be caused by emotional trauma or pre-existing psychological conditions. Genes or structural changes in the brain can put individuals at the risk of developing the disorder. Negative factors from the environment act as triggers in some cases. 

Individuals who struggle with emotional regulation and awareness engage in patterns such as these to feel better, which could also be one of the reasons for developing Binge Eating Disorder. Having a poor body image plays a major role too. Although negative body image is not the main criteria for diagnosis for BED, behaviors such as avoiding a mirror excessively or checking one’s body very often are noticed. When they feel bad about their body or aspects of their body, it triggers their mental peace and they take to bingeing. Later, they feel guilty about it and regret it which causes self-harm tendencies, substance abuse, etc.

Some symptoms of BED include:

• uncontrollable and unstoppable bouts of overeating 
• consuming large amounts of food in a short time and eating rapidly 
• eating when not hungry or when uncomfortably full 
• eating alone or in secret - feelings of shame, disgust, and regret for the actions they take 
• dieting without much result 
• losing interest in sex due to shame 
• lying to people about the quantity of food consumed

Impact: 

•  Sleep concerns – Individuals with the disorder usually consume foods with high levels of salt, sugar, and carbohydrates. These foods provide quick bursts of energy that interfere with regular sleep patterns. Also, an increase in BMI could increase the risk of Sleep Apnea. Other disturbances include hypersomnia (excessive tiredness and fatigue) and reduced REM sleep

 

• Fertility problems, Pregnancy issues, and PCOS - Overeating increases insulin levels in our bodies which causes hormonal imbalances, which can result in irregular periods and severe cases, leading to PCOS. This along with other factors later leads to fertility problems in women.

• Chronic abdomen pain, Irritable bowel syndrome, and Gastrointestinal issues - Abdominal pain exists because binge eaters consume large amounts in short periods. Excessive intake might rupture and increase the chances of perforation. Irritable Bowel Syndrome can be caused by several factors, such as chronic stress or anxiety, poor nutrition, disrupted sleep patterns which are all prevalent in binge eaters. 

• Obesity, Heart issues, Diabetes - Binge eaters are at the risk of obesity because of the significantly high intake of salty, sugary, and carbohydrates-filled food. Heart issues are prevalent in them due to unhealthy eating patterns which can further lead to obesity and high cholesterol.

• Depression, Anxiety, OCD, and Other disorders – Of all the other impacts, these are perhaps the most disturbing ones as they are not visible or spoken about much. Binge eating is sometimes solely motivated by these factors. Individuals are said to binge eat food that is high in fat but low in nutrients, when overlapped with chronic stress, is followed by depression.

• Low self-esteem, Social isolation, Impact on social relationships – A poor body image causes low self-esteem, and symptoms of depression or anxiety sometimes make them want to stay away from people. Fear of being judged or commented upon are some reasons they refrain from talking about their issues. Social relationships are affected this way, leading them deeper into depression. 

Binge Eating Disorder is more common in women than men. However, all genders are at risk of it. Many men are affected by this disorder. It affects 2% of the population worldwide. Almost 80% of this population might also be dealing with PTSD, anxiety, depression, etc.