Emotional and binge eating education to help you reset

Binge eating is different from overeating. A binge is not eating a lot of Halloween candy. A binge is not eating a pint of ice cream. A binge eating episode may entail eating a cheeseburger and french fries followed by a jar of peanut butter and then diving into two pints of ice cream. The shame, guilt and sense of failure then takes over. The rush and “high” from the binge quickly turns into a paralyzing “low.”

A binge may be pre-planned or it could pop up out of nowhere. Once the binge starts, one typically feels out of control and eats to the point of pain and discomfort. If these binge-eating episodes are happening, we strongly suggest that one seeks professional guidance. A team of a licensed therapist and a registered dietitian is an important place to start.

Binge Eating Disorder (BED), according to the National Eating Disorders Association, is a severe, life-threatening, and treatable eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food (often very quickly and to the point of discomfort); a feeling of a loss of control during the binge; experiencing shame, distress or guilt afterwards; and not regularly using unhealthy compensatory measures (e.g., purging) to counter the binge eating. It is the most common eating disorder in the United States.

Those with disordered food and eating behaviors, regardless of whether they fit the diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder, often feel anxiety around food. These individuals may track daily food intake down to the calorie or specific nutrients in a more obsessive manor. Those with disordered eating may exercise obsessively at the gym or avoid social situations in which food is available.

Disordered eating is present when an individual engages in abnormal eating patterns or food behaviors on a regular basis. This does not generally apply to those with specific food intolerances or health problems or those who have no choice but to adhere to a certain nutrition protocol (e.g., Celiac Disease). People who turn to disordered eating often do so to cope with uncomfortable emotions or stress. Additionally, those with disordered eating patterns may overly focus on weight and calorie intake. This can be a way to control or distract from other areas of their lives in which they feel inadequate, or with the idea that reaching their goal weight will finally make them happy.