The disorder from Binge Eating or uncontrolled eating disorderwas recognized only in 2013 as a distinct diagnostic category from the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5).
It is a food disorder characterized by recurring episodes of uncontrolledoften associated with feelings of loss of control, fault and shame.
Characteristics of Binge Eating
Binge eating stands out from other eating disorders, such as anorexia or bulimia, due to the lack of compensatory behavior, such as self -induced vomiting or the use of laxatives. This can lead to overweight or obesitybut as it is true that not all the people who are overweight suffer from binge eating disorder, it is equally true that the disorder can also occur in normal -breasted people.
The main characteristics of the disorder include:
- Recurring episodes of binges: During an abundant, the person consumes a significantly greater amount of food than the norm in a limited period of time (e.g. two hours).
- Control loss: During the episode, those who suffer from Binge Eating feel unable to stop, even when they are satisfied.
- Emotional suffering: After the binge, negative emotions such as fault, shame and disgust for oneself are often arise.
- Frequency and durability: To diagnose the disorder, the episodes must occur at least once a week for three consecutive months.
A bulimic episode Objective is characterized by the intake in less than two hours of a largest amount of food than what people would eat in such a period of time and the feeling of losing control, that is, of not being able to stop once you have started.
Symptoms of binge eating
In addition to the episodes of binges, the uncontrolled eating disorder is associated with a series of specific symptoms and behaviors:
- eat more quickly than normal,
- eat until you feel unpleasantly full
- Eating large quantities of food when you don’t feel physically hungry
- eat alone because you feel embarrassed by the amount of food you are eating
- feel disgusted with himself, depressed or guilty after the bulimic episode
Causes of binge eating
The causes of binge eating are not yet completely understood, but it is believed that the disorder is the result of a combination of biological, psychological and environmental factors:
- Biological factors: An imbalance in neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine, could influence food behavior. Genetics also plays an important role, with an inheritance predisposition for eating disorders.
- Psychological factors: Stress, anxiety, depression and low self -esteem are often associated with the Bed. Uncontrolled diet can be used as a form of emotional self-regulation.
- Environmental factors: Unlimited access to highly caloric and hyper-reprooked foods, together with social pressures regarding weight and body image, contribute to the development of the disorder.
Several authors (oats, Rada, & Hoebel, 2008) have speculated that the Binge eating disorder It was a form of dependence.
In particular, these studies have detected a decrease in D2 dopaminergic receptors and an increase in dopamine both in individuals who abuse cocaine and alcohol and in individuals with obesity.
Currently this hypothesis has been criticized for several reasons, first of all, people with Binge-eating disorder They try to avoid the bulimic episode, while those who have a dependence on substances do not have the same motivation to avoid their use. Furthermore, if the objective bulimic episode was a real form of dependence, it should be characterized by the consumption and desire for specific foods. On the contrary, what distinguishes it is the amount of food ingested, not what is eaten (Wilson, 2010).
The function of the abundant
The bulimic episodes that characterize the Binge eating disordermore than a consequence of an addiction to food, seem to be a way that some people use to manage negative emotions or high levels of stress. Food becomes a strategy to face negative events or concerns, it takes on the function of modular intense or intolerable emotional states Or it becomes the only source of gratification.
However, if immediately after a bulimic episode There is an initial attenuation of the discomfort, shortly afterwards generally appear to be guilt, anxiety and depressed mood which in turn can trigger a new bully episode (Da Grave, 2014).
So, in addition to being a dysfunctional coping strategy, the binge is the expression of a food problem that can further undermine theself-esteem of the person. It can develop a self -assessment system based exclusively on its (in) capacity to control the weight and shape of the body.
How binge eating influences daily life
Uncontrolled eating disorder can have a devastating impact on many aspects of daily life:
- Physical health: Is associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and gastrointestinal problems.
- Psychological well -being: Feelings of shame and guilt can aggravate depression and anxiety, creating a vicious circle.
- Social relations: The disorder can isolate those who suffer from it, generating difficulties in interpersonal relationships.
- Work and performance: The concerns related to weight and food can interfere with concentration and productivity.
Treatment of binge eating
Binge eating is curable and the therapeutic options are manifold. A multidisciplinary approach, involving psychologists, nutritionists and doctors, is often the most effective.
- Psychotherapy: the Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) It is the most used treatment for this disorder. It helps identify dysfunctional thoughts related to food and develop practical strategies to deal with them.
- Drugs: Some antidepressants, such as the inhibitors of serotonin recapration (SSRI), can reduce symptoms. Specific drugs, such as LISDEXAMFETAMINE, are approved in some countries for the treatment of binge eating.
- Nutritional support: A dietician can help develop a balanced and sustainable food plan, reducing the probability of binged.
