Posts Tagged ‘Low Self Esteem’

Causes of Binge Eating Disorder and Compulsive Overeating Treatment Tips

According to the National Institutes of Health, 2 percent of all U.S. adults suffer from compulsive overeating—making binge eating disorder or yo yo dieting more common than bulimia or anorexia. Unlike other eating disorders, which primarily occur in women, binge eating disorder also affects a significant number of men.
 
Binge eating usually begins in late adolescence or early adulthood, often after a major diet. But most people don’t seek help until much later when weight gain from their binge eating is causing health problems. It is for this reason that many compulsive overeating treatment centers have come up in Orange County, Laguna Niguel, Irvine, CA.

Most experts believe that it takes a combination of things to develop an eating disorder — including a person’s genes, emotions, and experience.

Biological causes of binge eating disorder

Studies show that biological abnormalities contribute to binge eating. For example, the hypothalamus (the part of the brain that controls appetite) may not be sending correct messages about hunger and fullness. Researchers have also found a genetic mutation that appears to cause food addiction. Finally, there is evidence that low levels of the brain chemical serotonin play a role in compulsive eating. Such cases need binge eating treatment.

Psychological causes of binge eating disorder

Depression and binge eating are strongly linked. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, up to half of all binge eaters are either depressed or have been before. There is further evidence that low self-esteem, loneliness, and body dissatisfaction are involved in compulsive overeating. People needing compulsive overeating treatment may also have trouble with impulse control and managing and expressing their feelings.

Social and cultural causes of binge eating disorder

Social pressure to be thin can add to the shame binge eaters feel and fuel their emotional eating. The way one is raised can also increase the risk for binge eating disorder. Some parents unwittingly set the stage for bingeing by using food to comfort, dismiss, or reward their children. Children who are exposed to frequent critical comments about their bodies and weight are also vulnerable.

Effects of binge eating disorder

People with binge eating disorder report more health issues, stress, insomnia, and suicidal thoughts than people without an eating disorder. Depression, anxiety, and substance abuse are common side effects as well. Binge eating also interferes with a person’s relationships and career.

Binge eating support and Treatment – Orange County, Laguna Niguel, Irvine, CA

It can be difficult to overcome binge eating and food addiction. Unlike other addictions, your “drug” is necessary for survival, so you don’t have the option of avoiding it. Instead, you must develop a healthier relationship with food—a relationship that’s based on meeting your nutritional needs, not your emotional ones.

Overcoming binge eating disorder also involves getting emotional eating under control. Eating right and listening to your body is an essential step in stopping binge eating. Other strategies that help include practicing relaxation techniques, staying connected to family and friends, and making time for things you enjoy as part of your daily schedule.

Source: helpguide.org

Eating Disorder Information and Types

Eating disorders are determined as long term illnesses that also require long term treatment. This disorder can occur frequently and can be a result of other illnesses such as substance abuse, depression and anxiety. The sooner that this disorder is diagnosed that better it is for the treatment of the same. It has been known through research that most of the people who are affected with this disorder are women in the age bracket of 12 to 25. However, recent studies indicate that men too are prone to the disorder and are getting affected in large numbers.

Eating Disorder sufferers are male and female alike. We are of all ethnicity’s, religions,and economic backgrounds. We are of all ages,with very different body structures. We can look normal on the outside and yet be suffering terribly on the inside. Genetics, Psychology, and Media all influence the onset of an eating disorder. Once we get caught in the cycle, some days it seems as though we will never break free. We constantly beat ourselves up, every moment of every hour of every day. If we could just be perfect in some way then we would be ok. It is easier to stand alone, free from the rejection, and disappointment of others. In our loneliness we listen to the constant torment inside our heads.

Emotional hunger is the main cause of binge eating. According to some findings, more than 50% of binge eaters suffer from some form of depression. Generally, sufferers are victims of overwhelming emotional pain. Stress, boredom, anger, jealousy, pain and fear trigger episodes of overeating in some people. People with low self-esteem, disturbed childhood histories and lonely lives are most vulnerable to binging. What makes binge eating so formidable is the pattern it creates in the life of the individual.

You may make a decision to be on a strict diet to lose weight. This can predominantly occur after several days of binging. If you restrict food after a while, you may feel very deprived. The urge for a treat may come over you. If you have a history of binge eating disorder, giving in to a treat may cause disappointment and self-loathing. You may feel so disgusted with yourself that you start to binge again.

Gentle Eating – Begin your meal by closing your eyes and breathing slowly, noticing how you are feeling, Sad, Mad or glad? Locate your hunger on a scale of 1-10. One being starved and ten being stuffed. Spend 15 minutes in silence and put your fork down after each bite. When 15 minutes is completed, take time to stretch and breathe, locate your hunger again and then finish your meal.

Types of Eating Disorders

Anorexia

Anorexia is caused by people starving themselves because they fear becoming fat. They never believe that they are thin enough, even when they are underweight. Not only do people with Anorexia restrict calorie intake, but they also exercise, diet pills and purge.

Binge Eating Disorder

Binge eating disorder causes people to overeat compulsively and feel guilty and ashamed of their behavior. However, they are unable to control this compulsive habit even when they are uncomfortably full.

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Eating Disorders Studies – What Has Been Found So Far?

Researching eating disorders is a relatively new field of medicine. Scientists still don’t have a lot of data on a long-term recovery process from eating disorders. But many things about who is susceptible to the disease, how it starts and how it develops is known and that is what we will look at here.

According to the latest numbers there are very many people who meet the criteria for disordered eating – about 10%-15% of women. These include all eating disorders: anorexia, bulimia, binge eating and others. The most dangerous of all anorexia nervosa takes about 1%-1.5%. Bulimia nervosa takes about 5%-6% and the rest goes to binge eating, extreme dieting, obsession with body image etc.

More than half the women who have been anorexic will develop bulimia in the process of the disease. And nearly 80% of bulimics show anorexic behaviors also. To say in other words they swing between non-eating to compulsive overeating and purging all the time during the disease.

And the only dividing line between anorexia and bulimia is their weight. People with extremely low weight are considered to be anorexic. And people with normal weight or slightly overweight considered to be bulimics.

Recent studies have also found that women are prone to the disease much more then men are. Genetic predisposition to develop an eating disorder is also confirmed by many researches.

It was said that people inherit a special gene which is responsible for developing addictive (obsessive) behaviors.

It was also shown that people with certain personality traits are also more prone to eating disorders. These personality traits include perfectionism, avoidance of harm and impulsivity (or difficulty in impulse control). Low self-esteem is a common trait. And they all are prone to attach too much importance on weight and body image.

The drive to thinness is broadly influence by the media. When women with certain personality traits and genetic make up are constantly exposed to images of waif-like models, slim actresses and stunning beauty icons they inevitably want to be like them.

When all the factors above converge in one person, she/he can develop an eating disorder.

To conclude, eating disorders are multiple -factor disorders. It takes a special genetic make up, special social influences and personality to develop the disease.

These complexities make the disease very difficult to treat and manage. Nevertheless, there are many cases of recovery from eating disorders and generally the disease is considered to be treatable.