Stressed is Desserts Spelled Backwards
People talk about “food addiction”, but unlike cocaine, meth, alcohol, gambling, shopping and other such things, we need food to survive. It is good to be addicted to food right? The more appropriate term is emotional eating. This is eating in a way that uses food to elevate our mood. Maybe we are feeling stressed, depressed or anxious, so we use food to alleviate those feelings. We use food as a drug, in this way, to mask the uncomfortable feelings we are experiencing and the truth is everybody does it at some point or another.
When Eating Becomes A Problem
Problematic eating occurs when the eater feels out of control and emotional and physical well-being are impacted negatively. A binge episode is eating in a discrete period of time (e.g., within any 2 hour period) a larger amount of food than what most people would eat in that same period under similar circumstances. The episode also comes with a lack of control over the eating. Binge eating episodes are usually associated with eating more rapidly than normal, eating until feeling uncomfortably full, eating large amounts despite not being hungry, eating alone due to embarrassment, or feeling disgusted, depressed or guilty afterwards. A person who is doing this regularly may have Binge-Eating Disorder, a psychological illness.
You can probably imagine the health ramifications for sustained binge eating. In addition to rapid weight gain, a regular binge eater might develop high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, heart disease, which could lead to heart attack or stroke, gallbladder disease, type II diabetes or sleep apnea. These health problems can also affect one’s quality of life. The increased body size too can inhibit people from being active, which can exacerbate their increasing weight problem.
The emotional consequences of binge eating are endless. As described, after a binge episode there are a lot of negative feelings for the actual binge: guilt, shame, embarrassment, fear, hopelessness, helplessness, and disappointment. Body dissatisfaction and the desire for thinness may also cause body image or self-esteem issues. We live in a fat shaming, body snarking society that teaches us fat is ugly, and it can be difficult not to internalize these messages. The negative feelings associated with binging helps perpetuate a cycle of binge eating.
How to Make It Stop
Binge-Eating Disorder (BED) is a serious psychological illness that impacts our physical and mental health. It is the most common eating disorder in the US, with more people suffering from BED than anorexia and bulimia combined. It affects all races and ethnicities. It’s prevalence in US adults is 1.6% for women and .8% in males, affecting an estimated 2.8 million people. This number doesn’t take into account the millions of Americans that eat with their emotions, but may not meet all the diagnostic criteria for Binge-Eating Disorder. There is treatment for anyone who recognizes that their eating is out of control and may need help. If you or someone you love is thinking about getting treatment, seek professional help from a psychotherapist or treatment program that specializes in the treatment of eating disorders. It’s also good to see your physician to identify any health related problems you are experiencing. A dietician can help put you on the right path to improving health through appropriate food choices. Help is available and recovery is possible. Please visit our website at www.sierratreatmentcenter.com to learn more.
