Not everyone is engaging in overeating, daily snacking or eating fast food as these folks remain a minority of eating problems that lead to obesity. The problem is multifactorial. In this article we will discuss natural ways to treat one the most common eating disorders called Binge Eating Disorder.
BED or Binge Eating Disorder
This disorder means recurrent episodes of binge eating obviously but what does that mean? This means eating a larger portion of food that most people will eat in a short period of time lets say in 2 hours. This episode causes one to eat not only larger portion , but eating until uncomfortably full. Although one is not hungry, they continue to eat large portion and there is a sense of embarrassment or guilt about eating and after eating episode. The frequency is atleast on a weekly basis for almost three months.
People who engage in such a behavior have higher BMI than average. it was thought to be a disorder of the adults in the past, however new research shows age of onset as earlier starting in late teens to 20s. The risk of other comorbidities in such folks is higher including that of diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, asthma, chronic pain and chronic headaches. Lifetime binge eating also has higher association with depression, phobias, alcohol dependence and panic disorder. Personality traits are also reported as lower such as low self esteem, higher anxiety and dependency in social relations.
People who engage in such an eating pattern tend to have higher rates of Obesity as well as an earlier onset of Obesity. When folks engage in active restriction of food or binging, this leads them to preoccupation with food, as well as issues with concentration and mood disturbance, including depression and irritability. They feel a positive feeling while binging and the negativity like irritability and low mood improves. This reward cycle leads the person to falsely decrease self-awareness and elevate mood temporarily. Negative emotions are a trigger to binge eating as well as relief from a negative episode. Binge eating is therefore "emotional eating."
Cognitive Behavior Therapy or CBT remains the best approach to binge-eating. The goal is to provide people with a disruption in the cycle of binge eating and promote healthier, more structured eating pattern and improve shape, weight and self esteem. The mind is used to promote self-monitoring and flexible thinking to reduce binge-episodes. No medication comes equal to this level of control.
Interpersonal Therapy of IBT is another approach with lesser but impressively good results than CBT. This therapy is more individualized and targets grief, interpersonal role disputes, role transitions and interpersonal deficits.
Now both CBT and IBT cause reduction in binge eating episodes, they are not impressive in causing weight loss. This may be a disappointing factor for many of you looking to loose weight via CBT or IBT but hear me out. Behavioral weight loss or BWL, which leads to a 500 to 750 kcal/day deficit and combines daily 30 minutes on average physical activity leads to weight loss of an average 8% from initial weight. But combined with CBD or IBT, BWL lead to greater weight loss than either alone.
CBT with a therapist remains the best form for success in reduction and elimination of BED, then comes self directed way of controlling Binge eating. Behavioral Weight Loss has not much role to play in reducing binge eating episodes.
Among medications the second generation anti-depressants such as sertraline, citalopram, escitalopram have shown not only reduction in binge eating episodes but also showed reduction in obsessive thoughts and compulsions that occur when binge eating is restricted. Others include topiramate and lisdexamfetamine, a medication approved for ADHD. At this time, only lisdexamfetamine is approved by FDA in the role of treatment of BED.
The Intuitive Eating Workbook is a recommended resource for those who wish to follow a more self directed method of CBT to target Binge eating. For your convenience I have added the link below.
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