Binge eating is a disorder that is characterized by having a compulsive need to eat food in large quantities, and continue eating unable to stop even when feeling satiated. It is diagnosed when it occurs to a person at least once a week and continuously for at least 3 months.
Generally we think of eating disorders as anorexia and bulimia but binge eating is quite frequent. It wasn’t until 2013 when it was recognized as a disease, that it was brought up as a risk factor for another series of pathologies associated with nutrition, such as obesity, metabolic diseases, and diabetes among others.
The triggering motive is diverse, on the one hand, restrictive diets where a vulnerable person is subjected to eliminate nutrients (especially carbohydrates) can very easily lead to binge eating.
Another trigger is traumatic situations. Whenever there is an eating disorder there is an emotion that is being repressed. This is how psychological disorders can trigger uncontrolled eating, so in this case food is not the problem but the symptom. Many people seek to hide from emotion by taking refuge in food to “avoid” suffering.
It is important to be clear that treatment is multidisciplinary, it must be done by a team of psychologists and nutritionists so together they can help the patient improve the relationship with food.
