Binge There, Done That: Comfort Eating vs Binge Eating Disorder

"We are what we eat" isn't a common saying for nothing. Every cell in our body is made up of the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe. In other words, food is our identity and our lifestyle is based on the type of food we eat and how we eat it. How and what we eat also reflects on our health and you can make out from a person’s health about the type of food that they eat. To ensure that you have a healthy lifestyle you must make sure that you eat healthy food that can provide your body with more proteins, nutrients and minerals.

Healthy Ways to Manage Your Food

While most people eat to stay healthy and to maintain their hectic lifestyle, there are millions who suffer from eating disorders and that can lead to poor health over a period of time. 

For people who are suffering from eating disorders this can be difficult because they constantly crave for more food, but eating disorders can be handled and cured, if right precautions are taken.

Patients that suffer from binge eating disorder often believe that they have a certain health disorder, but it is more of an emotional disorder where patients do not have control over their consumption of food. The excessive indulgence of food or drinks often leads to eating disorders. The best way to maintain a healthy relationship with your food is to ensure that you control the amount of food you eat. When we talk about controlling the amount of food we eat, most people think of diet plans. 

Although diet plans are designed to help you lose weight, it does not work effectively for those who are suffering from binge eating disorder (BED). According to DSM-IV (Diagnostic  and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders) released in 1994 binge eating disorder was listed in Appendix B and had to be diagnosed with the non-specific EDNOS (Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified). However, in 2013, DSM-5 made it official that binge eating disorder is an actual eating disorder diagnosis.

On the other hand, binge eaters also feel that they should skip certain meals of the day day which would help them burn more calories and that would reflect on their weight. However, binge eaters feel the urge to eat even when they are not hungry, which means the intensity of the urge to eat after skipping meals would be more intense, and again that would trigger overeating. 

READ Binge Eating Disorder Treatment

Eating disorders can urge you to eat more food and therefore it is also recommended that you do not stock your refrigerator with food, especially foods with high sugar and fat content. Most binge eaters feel the urge to eat foods that have high sugar and fat content. Binge eaters also have to constantly remind themselves that they need to eat food to nourish their body and not just for the sake of eating it. This takes some practice, but it helps to control the urge and to divert attention.