Did you know that binge eating disorder is the most common eating disorder in the United States?
When you think of an eating disorder, you might easily imagine someone starving themselves or obsessively counting calories. However, eating too much can also be an indication of an eating disorder, and it can be just as harmful.
If you’re interested in learning more about binge eating symptoms and how to recognize them, keep reading. We’ll tell you everything you need to know about binge eating.
What Is Binge Eating?
Binge eating is eating in excess. Binge eating on its own is not necessarily an indication of binge eating disorder. It can be a symptom of other mental health problems, physical illness, or stress.
Binge eating typically involves eating about 1,000 calories or more in one sitting. This exact number may vary, of course, based on someone’s metabolism and lifestyle.
Binge eating disorder occurs when someone binge eats regularly and the habit takes control of their life. Whether you have binge eating disorder or not, learning how to stop binge eating can be beneficial for your health and wellness.
Binge Eating Symptoms
Let’s break down some of the symptoms of binge eating. If you notice any of these symptoms in you or someone you know, you should look into binge eating treatment.
1. Eating Unusually Large Amounts Of Food
The most obvious symptom of binge eating is eating large amounts of food when you don’t have a good reason to.
There are good reasons to increase your caloric intake, such as bodybuilding or pregnancy. However, if you frequently eat much more food than you need, you may be binge eating.
2. Feeling Unable To Control Your Eating Habits
Binge eating disorder is classified as a mental illness because it has an intense psychological component. You may find that you constantly think about binge eating. You may also find that you keep planning to stop and are unable to do so.
3. Eating Despite Being Uncomfortably Full
How do you know when you’re eating more than you need to? A good rule of thumb is that if you keep eating past being uncomfortably full, you may be binge eating.
4. Eating In Secret And Hoarding Food
People who binge eat often feel very ashamed of their habits. Therefore, they often hoard stashes of food to binge on, or eat in secret and try to pretend nothing is wrong.
5. Dieting Without Losing Weight
People who binge eat often try and fail to diet and lose weight. No matter how committed they are to fixing their binge eating problem, they may find that it’s too difficult to overcome without professional help.
Find Binge Eating Treatment Today
Watch out for these binge eating symptoms in yourself and the people you love. If you suspect that you or someone you know may be struggling with binge eating disorder, seek treatment as soon as you can.
For more health and wellness tips, check out some more of our informative articles.
