More than Just a Little Overeating

We all have days when we want to raid the cabinets for food that makes us feel good: a slice of cake, chips, candy, cookies, ice cream.
Having these cravings once in a while is natural—such as grabbing a second or third plate of food at a holiday meal; as teenagers, we’re growing and need extra nutrients to support ourselves.
However, binge-eating is different from an occasional bout of overindulgence. Those who suffer from binge-eating disorders eat unusually large amounts of food regularly. They often eat quickly, do other things while they eat (such as doing homework or watching television), and continue eating even after they’re full.
You may wonder why people like this don’t simply just stop eating. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple.
People with binge-eating problems don’t overeat because they want to be overweight; in fact, they wish they could be healthy and fit. A binge-eater feels terrible for eating so much but powerless to stop eating—one of the reasons binge-eating is also known as compulsive overeating. Like other eating disorders, binge eating may start out gradually—eating after a tiring or stressful day—and escalate to the point where a person can no longer control their impulses.
Binge eating may arise from times when someone feels stressed or upset and find comfort in food. Oftentimes, they will feel guilty after they finish eating. A combination of factors may contribute to the development of binge eating—for example, genetics and childhood behaviors. The hypothalamus, which regulates appetite, can fail to send messages that a person is full. Some families also overuse food as a way to comfort their children, such as buying an ice cream cone for the child after scraping a knee.
“I think a lot of cultures use food as a reward or a way to make someone feel better,” senior Annie Hiu said. “That could be a reason that people develop overeating disorders.”
Victims of binge eating disorder may need psychological help to overcome self-esteem issues. Binge eating is a serious disorder and cannot be easily solved by telling someone to stop eating.
However, with the support of friends, family members and medical professionals, the problem can be solved.

By: Staff Writer Shannon Li