How to Cope With Binge Eating

Serious Complications Of Binge Eating

• Psychological problems Anxiety, depression, personality disorders, stress, trouble in sleeping, and suicidal thoughts.

• Obesity-related diseases. Binge eating leads to obesity, which can further lead to problems such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol levels, gallbladder disease, heart disease, and certain types of cancer.

• Other complications Joint pain, digestive problems, headache, muscle pain, and menstrual problems.

How to Control Binge Eating
In order to stop binge eating, one should develop a healthier relationship with food -- a relationship that’s based on meeting your nutritional needs, not your emotional ones.

1) Self-care Tips

• Eat right and listen to your body In order to adapt healthy eating habits, it’s important to add nutritious content in your diet. Healthy eating involves making balanced meal plans, choosing healthy foods when eating out, and making sure you’re getting the right amount of nutrients in your diet.

Ask yourself if you are really hungry, or have a glass of water to see if you are thirsty instead of hungry. During a meal, stop eating before you feel full. It actually takes a few minutes for your brain to tell your body that it has had enough food, so eat slowly.

• Avoid skipping breakfasts Skipping breakfast often leads to overeating later in the day. A healthy breakfast kick-starts your metabolism in morning, and eating small, healthy meals throughout the day (rather than the standard three large meals) keeps your energy up and your metabolism going.

• Avoid stocking up tempting food Keeping less food in your home than you normally do can take away the temptation of binge eating. Clear your refrigerator and cupboards of your favorite binge foods.

• Avoid crash dieting The deprivation and hunger of strict dieting can trigger food cravings and the urge to overeat.

• Excercise Talk to your doctor about what kind of exercise is appropriate for you according to your health status. Exercise helps you to lose weight in a healthy way, reduces stress and depression, and improves overall health. The natural mood-boosting effects of exercise can help put a full stop to emotional eating.

• De-stress yourself and Stay connected Learn how to cope with stress in healthy ways that don’t involve food. Don’t isolate yourself from your family and friends.

2) Professional and Medical Treatments These are offered by psychiatrists, nutritionists, psychologists, and eating disorder and obesity specialists. The treatments include -

• Nutritional rehabilitation and counseling This strategy is designed to teach a healthy approach towards food and weight, to help restore normal eating patterns, and to teach the importance of nutrition and a balanced diet.

Behavioral weight-loss programs typically aren't recommended until the binge-eating disorder is treated, because it may trigger more binge-eating episodes. However, when necessary, weight-loss programs for people with binge-eating disorder are generally done under medical supervision to ensure that nutritional requirements are met.

• Psychotherapy It includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), and dialectical behavior therapy. These therapies help in treating behavioral and psychological symptoms of binge eating disorder.

• Medicines Certain medicines, such as SSRI antidepressants, can cause reduction in binge eating behavior and alleviate depression.

• Self-help It involves a self-help program either with support and encouragement from a clinical professional (guided self-help) or on one’s own (pure self-help). Self-help books, videos, and support groups are available.