Thread: Are you addicted to food or Binge Eating

Some people say they are addicted to food, but some don't know that it maybe a binge eating disorder. It is an abnormal eating pattern in which a person eat a lot more food in a limited time than most people normally would consume. We all eat too much sometimes but the people with this type of eating disorder have abnormal eating pattern that happens between 1-2 hours.

Binge eaters exhibit many of the following behaviors:

• They eat abnormally large amounts of food at one sitting, often consuming 3,000-10,000 calories in a short period.
• They gobble their food, eating much faster than usual.
• During a binge, they feel out of control and unable to stop eating, even though they may want to.
• Despite feeling full or even painfully uncomfortable, they continue to eat.
• Binge eaters tend to diet constantly but never lose weight.

People at higher risk of developing binge-eating disorder share certain characteristics that includes:

• Frequent dieting. People who go on rigorous diets or who frequently gain and lose large amounts of weight (weight cycling) are more likely to become binge eaters.
• Impulsiveness. Binge eaters, like bulimics, have problems with impulse control.
• low self-worth and negative self-talk. This occurs almost universally among people with all types of eating disorders.
• Difficulty managing anger and appropriately expressing feelings.
• Preoccupation with body image and weight.
• Sexual abuse. Some, but by no means all, people with binge eating disorder report being sexually abused as children. This is an area of ongoing research.
• Depression. It is not clear whether depression causes binge eating or if binge eating causes depression, but the two are often found together.

The problem is some binge eaters don't want to admit that they have the disorder. Behaviors such as secretive eating, constant dieting without losing weight, obsessive concern about weight, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse are all clues, but none of these signs are conclusive according to studies. A person may complain about symptoms related to obesity, such as fatigue and shortness of breath, or mention unsuccessful dieting, but again, these signs are not definitive.

Since it is difficult to detect because binge-eater don't admit that they have the disorder, it is also difficult to prevent. Here are some of the preventive strategies that needs to be observed to avoid binge eating disorder:

• Parent should not obsess about their weight, appearance, and diet in front of their children.
• Do not tease people about their body shapes or compare them to others.
• Make it clear that family members are loved and accepted as they are.
• Try to eat meals together as a family whenever possible; avoid eating alone.
• Avoid using food for comfort in times of stress.
• Monitoring negative self-talk; practice positive self-talk.
• Spend time doing something enjoyable every day
• Stay busy, but not overly busy
• Be alert to signs of low self-worth, anxiety, depression, and drug or alcohol abuse and seek help as soon as these signs appear.

You're all welcome! I'm glad that I can provide you great and helpful information. We all can acquire this eating disorder if we don't care for ourselves more. It is also important that we accept that there is more to life than just losing weight and we should love ourselves more all the time no matter what people think of us. Just choose to eat right and live a healthy lifestyle for a better well being.