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Binge Eating or Food Addiction? . How Your Eating Habits Tell if You are a Binge Eater or Food Addict.

binge eating
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While binge eating disorder (BED) and addictive behaviors share many characteristics, it is erroneous to use the terms interchangeably.

Overeating has degrees of severity. Binge eating disorder is high on the scale. Food addiction is the extreme on the continuum and may simply be an acute form of binge eating disorder. Although the illnesses are distinctly different, the markers for each can be similar.

What is Binge Eating Disorder?

Binge eating is compulsive overeating. Binge eaters will eat huge amounts of food while feeling out of control and unable to stop. Episodes usually last about two hours although some people binge on and off throughout the day. Binge eaters will eat even if they do not feel hungry and will continue eating despite feeling full.

Read, “Help for Binge Eating Disorder.”  

Binge Eating: A Vicious Cycle

People with binge eating disorder frequently have feelings of guilt and depression. They are concerned about their behaviors and the potential physical consequences of those behaviors. Although binge eating provides momentary comfort, it is followed with regret and battered self-esteem. This type of binging behavior often leads to weight gain or obesity which then leads to more compulsive eating in an attempt to cope. It is a vicious cycle that perpetuates the illness.

Read,“What to Do about Binge Eating.”  

Binge Eating Symptoms

Binge eaters exhibit behavioral symptoms, such as: 

an inability to stop eating or to control what is eaten,

rapidly eating great amounts of food,

eating despite feeling full, and

hiding food to eat at a later time when alone.

Emotional symptoms of binge eating include:

relief from stress through eating,

embarrassment over how much food is eaten,

feeling dissatisfied despite how much is actually eaten, and

feelings of disgust and guilt after overeating.

 

Binge Eating Disorder Diagnosis and Treatment

What is Food Addiction?

Food addiction defines the effect that junk foods, or foods that contain sugar or wheat, have on reward centers in the brain.

Studies have shown that obese people who go on a food binge of dense carbohydrates have the same D2 dopamine gene marker as alcoholics and drug addicts. In addition, PET scans have shown that binge eating obese people have the same brain image problems as alcoholics and drug addicts. Such findings lend support to the contention that food addition is a biochemical dependency on food.

Food Addiction Symptoms

Symptoms of food addiction include:

frequent cravings for particular foods despite feeling full,

eating more than you intended to,

eating to the point of feeling stuffed,

feelings of guilt after eating particular foods,

attempts to hide the consumption of unhealthy foods, and

feeling unable to control your consumption of unhealthy foods despite the knowledge that the behavior harmful.

Binge Eating or Food Addiction: The Bottom Line

As can be readily seen, the symptoms for binge eating disorder and food addiction are similar. However, respective definitions for each disorder do distinguish them from one another. The bottom line: Binge eating disorder is defined as a behavioral compulsive disorder while food addiction is defined as a biochemical dependency.

Read, “Mental Health Support for Bariatric Patients.”

In good health,
Robert Borne

Content is the opinion of the author and does not constitute or is a replacement for medical advice.  

Jan 29, 2017Robert Borne
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January 29, 2017 Bad Habits, Inspiration, Struggles, Weight Loss Educationbinge eaters, binge eating, Binge Eating Disorder, Binge Eating or Food Addiction, Binge Eating Symptoms, food addiction, Food Addiction Symptoms, food binge548
Robert Borne

Robert Borne is retired from the mental health profession in which he utilized a cognitive behavioral approach to addictions. He has helped many people take control of their health and their lives. Nowadays Bob is solely focused on food as a substance of abuse, various treatment approaches, and the emotional changes the individual and family must navigate before, during and after massive weight loss.

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2015 © Borne LLC. We are not healthcare professionals and all content is the opinion of the author(s). This website is for sharing research and opinion only and is not medical, legal, or financial advice or treatment for any medical conditions. You should promptly seek professional medical care if you have any concern about your health, and you should always consult your physician before starting a fitness regimen. By using this service, you accept our Terms of Use.