Everyone overeats from time to time, however, overeating and binge eating are very different. Binge eating is when you eat a lot of food in just a few hours, even if you are not hungry. Binge eating is also more dangerous than just overeating. When you binge eat, you compulsively overeat, without having the need to eat . People usually do this to drown out emotions, and almost always feel regret or shame after binge eating. All eating disorders are awful, and to overcome them, you must first understand what is causing them. There is always an underlying issue, as to why people turn to food for comfort. The questions that may require thought are…What’s missing in one’s life? What is causing the depression? What changes have recently taken place, causing binge eating? What is the added stress in their life that may be contributing to this problem? The frequency of binge eating is said to occur at least twice a week, for six months, and it’s typically done in privacy. People who binge eat don’t like to go out to eat or be around people, so as to keep their illness a secret from those around them.
If you are wondering if you binge eat, ask yourself the following questions. Are there some days, even though you want to stop eating, you’re not able to stop yourself? Are there some days you surprise yourself with how much food you can eat in a short period of time? Do you ever feel guilty after realizing how much food you have consumed at any one or combined sitting? At the end of each day, do you find yourself saying, “Tomorrow, I am going to stop binging.”
Here are some differences between overeating and binge eating. Both of these involve mindless behavior, meaning that one eats too much, without even thinking about it. If food is in front of you, without a second thought, you consume it. But, there are real differences between these two disorders. One example of overeating is having more than one dessert after a meal. Another example is finishing an entire bag of popcorn, while watching TV or a movie. An example of binge eating is when you sneak a large bag of chocolate or candy into your room, and finish all of it, while doing it discreetly. Binge eating is also eating an entire cake in one sitting, and immediately feeling guilty, or finishing three burgers, even when you know you are uncomfortably full.
There is also something referred to as “emotional eating.” This type of eating is due to a stressful event, such as a breakup or a death, but could also be related to a happy event. For example, emotional eating can occur after a friend or loved one announces an engagement, when you learn about someone you know, winning the lottery, or when you hear that a friend or family member is expecting a baby, etc. Some people eat simply because they are sad or depressed, and some people are what I refer to as “happy eaters.” I, personally, cannot eat when I am sad or stressed. I am, though, a happy eater. There are plenty of people who turn to food when they are feeling down. Food becomes comfort for them, but the reality is that the comfort is short lived. Once someone with this issue realizes how they feel after eating for emotional reasons, they are creating a habit of turning to food for comfort.
If you think you may be a binge eater, or have an eating disorder, consider talking with a doctor or therapist. Only a trained mental health professional can diagnose your condition. Now, contrary to what you just read, there are times when overeating is not considered an eating disorder. As Americans, we tend to overeat, in general. However, to bring this all together, frequent or compulsive overeating, especially if you feel out of control during these times, is a main symptom of binge eating. Overeating can also be a symptom of other eating disorders like bulimia nervosa. Again, let a professional help you sort it out. The first step in getting help is talking with a primary care doctor (PCP). Your medical doctors can help you get to the root of the problem, which is really the only way to heal oneself. A PCP can refer you to a mental health professional, who specializes in eating disorders and is able to diagnose the condition. They can also suggest therapy, or they may even provide medication.
One thing to keep in mind is that weight loss programs are considered to be the wrong approach when treating eating disorders. If your doctor or therapist suggests you should try to lose weight, consider switching to a different healthcare professional. The world, today, seems to be all about appearance, and young girls are most vulnerable. It is more important to them to look good or be skinny, than it is to be healthy. Consequently, it is vital that they are taught how to avoid thinking negatively about themselves and how to develop a healthy self-esteem from when they are at a very young age. To prevent eating disorders, females, especially (although males can also be afflicted by these disorders), need to believe that they are perfect just the way they are, and learn to love themselves, unconditionally.
Eating disorders are no joke. They are serious illnesses, which need to be treated as such, and building confidence at a young age can be a significant preventative measure to help prevent them from developing.
Susan Gazerro
