What are the Symptoms of Binge Eating?
October 5, 2023 | by Sravani Pathakamuri | Posted in FAQ's
Binge eating disorder (BED) is a serious mental health condition characterized by recurrent episodes of consuming large quantities of food within a short period, often in a secretive and uncontrollable manner. People with BED may feel a lack of control during these episodes and experience distress and guilt afterward. Here are common symptoms associated with binge eating:
- Frequent Episodes of Overeating: Recurrent episodes of consuming an excessive amount of food within a specific time frame (e.g., within two hours), often far more than what most people would eat in a similar period.
- Lack of Control: A sense of lack of control overeating during a binge episode, feeling unable to stop or regulate the amount of food being consumed.
- Eating Rapidly: Eating quickly during binge episodes, without savoring the food or paying attention to taste or hunger cues.
- Eating Alone Due to Embarrassment: Binge eating often occurs in secret or when alone due to feelings of shame, embarrassment, or guilt associated with the behavior.
- Feeling Distressed or Upset After Binging: Experiencing intense feelings of guilt, shame, sadness, or disgust after a binge-eating episode.
- Eating Despite Fullness: Consuming large amounts of food even when not physically hungry or already feeling full or uncomfortable.
- Use of Food to Cope with Emotions: Using food as a way to cope with emotional stress, anxiety, depression, boredom, or other negative emotions.
- Body Image Concerns: Often having negative perceptions of one’s body weight or shape, and binge eating may be triggered or exacerbated by body dissatisfaction.
- Hiding Food or Food Wrappers: Evidence of excessive food consumption, such as empty food containers, wrappers, or food hidden in unusual places.
- Frequent Dieting or Restrictive Eating: Engaging in repeated dieting attempts, extreme calorie restriction, or other forms of rigid dieting, which may lead to binge episodes.
- Avoidance of Social Situations Involving Food: Avoiding social events or situations that involve food due to fear of losing control over eating in public.
- Feeling Upset About Eating Patterns: Distress over the binge eating behavior, feeling out of control, and a desire to change the eating pattern.
It’s important to note that not everyone who occasionally overeats has binge eating disorder. A diagnosis of BED involves a pattern of binge eating that occurs at least once a week for three months or more. If you suspect you or someone you know may have BED or an unhealthy relationship with food, it’s crucial to seek help from a healthcare professional or mental health specialist for evaluation, diagnosis, and appropriate treatment. BED is a treatable condition, and therapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) can be effective in managing symptoms and promoting recovery.