Focus on..... Binge Eating Disorder

 Focus on..... Binge Eating Disorder (BED)

 

Binge Eating Disorder or BED is often characterised by someone consuming very large amounts of food over short period of time, even if they are not hungry. Although, we often see another form of binge eating that is characterised by an almost constant 'grazing' of food, which may amount to a large volume of food over time.

BED is almost 2x as common in women than in men, although gender differences are less pronounced than in Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa. BED has been found is all cultures and ethnicities.

BED was formally classified in 2014 as distinct Eating Disorder and now has formal classification in DSM-5.

Keeping in mind that everyone experiencing BED is different and BED may present differently (we are all different and unique, after all!), some of the signs and symptoms of BED include:

* Feeling out-of-control when eating during a binge episode.
* Often hiding food (before it has been eaten or hiding empty packets after i has been eaten).
* Consuming large amounts of food over short period of time.
* Lying about what you have eaten.
* Eating when depressed, anxious, lonely, negative thoughts/feelings.
* Eating large amounts of food even when not hungry.
* Can exhibit rapid weight gain, often leading to obesity.
* Eating until physically uncomfortable. The person may even feel physically sick by amount of food eaten.
* Severe depression can develop.
* Negative opinions about appearance.
* Feeling easily agitated.
* Not purge to compensate for eating large amounts of food (e.g., dietary restriction, laxatives, diuretics, over-exercising, enemas, self-induced vomiting).
* Feeling guilty, ashamed, exhibit low mood after binge-eating episode.

When someone engages in binge-eating, there is a rapid increase in blood sugar levels that causes insulin to be produced.
This insulin causes a rapid drop in blood sugar levels and this sends a false signal to brain, indicating that more food is required to top-up sugar levels.

This can result in cravings for sugary or fatty foods which provide a ‘quick fix’ way of topping up sugar levels. To meet demand for this for sugar, someone experiencing BED will then eat large amounts of sugary foods. This causes a rapid increase in blood sugar levels and, again, the production of insulin.

The ‘binge-eating cycle’ starts yet again. It's important to remember though, it's not your fault and binge eating does not indicate a lack of motivation or will power. It's a vicious cycle than can be really difficult to stop.

It's easy to see how someone experiencing BED can become trapped in cycle which only serves to perpetuate this BED behaviour. This is why is can be really important to access some help and support with interrupting this vicious cycle so that you can take control of this trap rather than you being trapped by this cycle.

(From: Talking EDs: Eating Disorders Support Service Scotland, 'Understanding Eating Disorders: Basics and Beyond (2012; 2019).

Our friendly, supportive and encouraging therapists are here to support you through any difficulties you may be experiencing. Therapy is at your pace, there's no pressure to attend X number of sessions or be 'better' by X date and appointments are collaborative and tailored to you. You are in the driving seat with your therapist alongside guiding and supporting you. We also have a specialist dietitian that you can speak with (one-off and regualr appointments with the dietitian available).

We offer in-person appointments at our offices in Glasgow city centre and online and telephone appointments to anyone in the UK.

Find out how we can support you. If you need any more information, have any questions or want to book an initial appointment, please feel free to get in touch. Our contact details are in below.

Take care and speak soon,

Alexandra

Talking EDs: Eating Disorders Support Service Scotland
W: www.eatingdisorderscotland.co.uk
E: support@eatingdisorderscotland.co.uk 

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