Most people have heard of binge eating. However, many are not aware that there are two major categories of binging.
1. Binge and Purge: The eater induces vomiting after binging.
2. Binge without Purge: The eater does not induce vomiting.
We will be addressing the second type of binging in this article (no purging). This problem is more common than many realize as some 3% of adults suffer from this disorder.
Binging is an even greater problem for obese adults. If we limit ourselves to this population only, we find the percentages increase to as high as ten to fifteen percent. So as you might expect, binging is much more of a problem for obese people.
An important discovery by researchers is that dieting is frequently associated with binging. Since binging is often related to stress, this finding is not really a surprise. Many people use food as a means of coping with stress. For many, binging is a form of self-medicating away feelings of anxiety and frustration. The stress of dieting is more than enough to act as a trigger.
When food is used in this way, it becomes a type of addiction. Unfortunately, like most addictions, binging carries the sufferer through a circular nightmare.
We binge because we feel bad, then we feel bad because we binged. The sufferer ends up caught on a treadmill with no off switch. This is a state of affairs that can be truly devastating.
Round and round and round?
If you are a chronic binger or if someone close to you is, it's important to realize that:
1. This may not be a problem that can be fixed without help.
2. Professional help is available.
If outside help is not an option, or does not appeal to you, consider some of the following approaches. They have proven to work well for many:
1. Do not try to lose more than 1 to 2 pounds a week. Severe calorie reduction is much more likely to trigger binging.
2. DO NOT cut out all of the foods you like. Figure in a couple hundred calories per day of your favorite foods. This helps reduce frustration and can actually help you lose weight.
3. NEVER go more than 4 hours without food.
4. Work on more of less. Four to six smaller meals a day will go a long way to easing the urge to binge.
5. Do your best to maintain a regular eating schedule. I know for some, this may feel restrictive, but studies show that this works best for the majority.
Remember that binging is related to stress. You need to address this in order to really free yourself from binging. Look into meditation or sports or exercise to help reduce the stress levels in your life. Learning to see things differently; wearing different color glasses so to speak, can help you look at the world in a way that is not stressful. This of course would be the best route. - 16004
1. Binge and Purge: The eater induces vomiting after binging.
2. Binge without Purge: The eater does not induce vomiting.
We will be addressing the second type of binging in this article (no purging). This problem is more common than many realize as some 3% of adults suffer from this disorder.
Binging is an even greater problem for obese adults. If we limit ourselves to this population only, we find the percentages increase to as high as ten to fifteen percent. So as you might expect, binging is much more of a problem for obese people.
An important discovery by researchers is that dieting is frequently associated with binging. Since binging is often related to stress, this finding is not really a surprise. Many people use food as a means of coping with stress. For many, binging is a form of self-medicating away feelings of anxiety and frustration. The stress of dieting is more than enough to act as a trigger.
When food is used in this way, it becomes a type of addiction. Unfortunately, like most addictions, binging carries the sufferer through a circular nightmare.
We binge because we feel bad, then we feel bad because we binged. The sufferer ends up caught on a treadmill with no off switch. This is a state of affairs that can be truly devastating.
Round and round and round?
If you are a chronic binger or if someone close to you is, it's important to realize that:
1. This may not be a problem that can be fixed without help.
2. Professional help is available.
If outside help is not an option, or does not appeal to you, consider some of the following approaches. They have proven to work well for many:
1. Do not try to lose more than 1 to 2 pounds a week. Severe calorie reduction is much more likely to trigger binging.
2. DO NOT cut out all of the foods you like. Figure in a couple hundred calories per day of your favorite foods. This helps reduce frustration and can actually help you lose weight.
3. NEVER go more than 4 hours without food.
4. Work on more of less. Four to six smaller meals a day will go a long way to easing the urge to binge.
5. Do your best to maintain a regular eating schedule. I know for some, this may feel restrictive, but studies show that this works best for the majority.
Remember that binging is related to stress. You need to address this in order to really free yourself from binging. Look into meditation or sports or exercise to help reduce the stress levels in your life. Learning to see things differently; wearing different color glasses so to speak, can help you look at the world in a way that is not stressful. This of course would be the best route. - 16004
About the Author:
Plagued by a slow metabolism since birth, uncovering the mysteries of successful weight control is Stephen Bartlay's passion. One of his focuses is binge eating control. If binging is a problem for you, find more information at http://WhyWeight.info/BingeBusters.
