For many of us, there are certain days of the year (such as New Year’s Eve dinner) when we eat “until nothing else fits in our bellies. For those who suffer from the
binge eating disorder , this type of “eating” is common and ends up becoming uncomfortable in your daily life, with serious negative consequences for your health.

What is binge eating disorder?

Binge eating disorder is a
severe eating disorder in which the person with this disorder often consumes large amounts of food and feels that he or she has lost control during the binge After overeating, severe distress or concern about weight often follows.

Eating disorders usually develop during adolescence or adulthood, although they can also occur in childhood. Binge eating disorder differs from
bulimia nervosa, since the person suffering from it does not seek to counteract the binge by provoking vomiting.

Like the
anorexia and bulimia, binge eating disorder is a serious illness, but it can be treated. It often coexists with illnesses such as depression, anxiety disorders, and substance abuse.

Symptoms of binge eating disorder

The following are the main symptoms of binge eating disorder:

  • Eating exaggerated amounts of food
  • Frequent feeling of lack of control over the amount of food eaten
  • Eating faster than normal
  • Eating despite being full and disgusted
  • Eating large amounts of food, even though not hungry
  • Eating alone out of embarrassment about how much you eat
  • After binge eating, feeling sad, depressed or ashamed
  • Frequent weight changes
  • Low self-esteem
  • Loss of sexual desire
  • Frequent unsuccessful dieting

Causes of binge eating disorder

The causes of this disorder are unknown, although it is thought that there are several factors associated with its development. Depression appears to be one of the causes, as most patients suffer from a depressive disorder.

There also seems to be a relationship between emotional management and binge eating disorder, as anger, sadness, boredom, or stress all contribute to the development of symptoms.

Some studies seem to indicate that
There may also be biological factors related to binge eating disorder , for example, the involvement of certain genes in the development of the condition. Other research confirms that serotonin is related to this disorder, and suggests that estrogen therapy may specifically trigger the brain neurons that produce serotonin to inhibit food binges.

In addition, other causes of binge eating disorder appear to be impulsivity or alcohol abuse.

Negative Health Consequences

Not only can depression be a cause, but it can also be a negative consequence of this type of eating disorder, since after binge eating, those who suffer from this pathology feel bad and see their self-esteem affected.

Weight gain is another negative consequence and produces serious health consequences, such as the following:

  • High blood pressure
  • Diabetes
  • High cholesterol
  • Gallstones
  • Heart disease

Treatment of binge eating disorder

These types of disorders should be treated by a specialist and the goals for treatment are: reduction of binge eating, improvement of emotional and physical well-being and weight loss.

Therefore, useful treatment may include:

  • Psychotherapy

    Cognitive-behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, or mindfulness may be helpful for the patient to overcome the disorder.

  • Pharmacology

    Certain medications such as SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors) or Topiramate have been shown to be effective for treatment.

  • Advice from a nutritionist
     Once the symptoms have been reduced, a dietitian can design a diet for a better relationship between the patient’s diet and his or her well-being.