The Effects of Binge-Eating On Your Body
The Effects of Binge-Eating On Your Body: When it comes to your cheat day, a birthday or a festive celebration, having the occasional indulgence is no cause for concern.
However, when a cycle of over-eating occurs compulsively in a regular pattern, a larger problem is at bay. This condition is referred to as “Binge-Eating Disorder” or rather, BED. This is likely when over-eating occurs at least once a week for approximately three months in a row.
This condition has psychological, emotional and physical sources in its affliction. Not only does this condition affect your self-esteem and mood, but it also has negative effects on your weight and your internal organs.
Those who suffer from this condition usually battle with depression, anxiety and substance abuse, in tandem with BED.
Though, focusing more on the physical after-effects we’ve deduced that this serious illness, though it does not automatically guarantee obesity, does introduce the possibility of the following complications:
- Diabetes
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Digestive problems
- Hormonal imbalances
- Sleep apnoea
- Arthritis
- Gall bladder issues
Breaking down the immediate effects, it’s been shown that the following happens when you over-eat. Eating in general causes a stretching of the stomach, which sends alerts in the form of “chemical messengers” to our appetite centres in our brains to reduce the want to eat.
Surpassing this sensation forces these signals to get “louder” and your body are on high alert to start breaking down the food while trying to convince you to stop eating. The increase of the body’s processes under the duress of trying to process all of the ingested food causes a higher heart rate and metabolism.
This increase in your body’s metabolism is to help burn off the calories in the food and results in an abundance. This causes a temperature spike, sweating and even dizziness. The continuous stretching of your stomach means that over time it will take even more food to feel full and thus the overeating perpetuates itself.
Taking steps to remove yourself of the habit of BED is simpler than you’d think. It can be summarised into one word: moderation.
After over-eating, don’t seek to ‘punish’ yourself with excessive exercise the next day or starvation. Resorting to this adds to the allure of “forbidden food” habits. Instead, eat normally throughout the day instead of starving yourself and increasing the likelihood of your bingeing that night.
Remember to include fruits and vegetables in your meals when coming back from a binge and eating slowly so that you have a better gauge of when your stomach is full.
Also, make sure to seek out the support, both professional and personal, that you’ll need to get better. There is no ‘quick-fix’ here, ensuring a healthier lifestyle means you’ll have to be consistent and you need to be aware of the condition you have and that the process to avoid it is a lifestyle you’ll have to commit to. Use whichever tactic serves you best in your quest to get better: healthy doses of exercise, therapy and remember to always be aware of your relationship with your body and food.