Binge eating and its effect on health were the subjects of a lecture organised by the Arabian Gulf University (AGU) College of Medicine and Medical Sciences at the university campus in Salmaniya yesterday.
It was led by AGU Psychiatry Department head professor Mariwan Husni and Physiology Department associate professor Dr Tareq Al Shaibani.
Binge eating is a pattern of disordered eating which consists of episodes of uncontrollable eating. It involves consuming large quantities of food very quickly, even when not hungry to the point of being uncomfortable.
Binge eating is a common symptom of eating disorders such as binge eating disorder (BED) or bulimia nervosa (BN).
It is widely regarded as a serious mental health condition where people eat without feeling like they are in control of what they’re doing.
Symptoms include eating when not hungry, eating very fast, eating in secret and feeling depressed, guilty, ashamed after eating.
The exact causes of BED are not known but usually arises from anxiety, low self-esteem, an obsessive personality, stressful event or trauma.
It can lead to high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes, gastro-oesophageal reflux and sleep disorders related to breathing.
“It can be attributed to various psychological reasons,” said Mr Husni.
“Individuals consume large amounts of food without paying attention to the taste or quantity, disregarding the body’s actual need.”
“People who are overweight or obese are most susceptible to this disorder and such individuals often experience feelings of sadness, anxiety, disgust and depression. They may also feel guilty after overeating, especially if they were not actually hungry.”
Dr Al Shaibani discussed the changes in the brain of individuals with BED.
“It results in an increase in the dopamine hormone responsible for feelings of happiness,” he said.
“Thus, the act of binge eating gives individuals a temporary dopamine boost, but is usually followed by feelings of shame, disgust and regret.
“This is all down to psychological issues and it is important to identify the underlying causes in order to treat it.
“This can be done through psychological and medical exams, consulting with a nutritionist and implementing healthy eating habits to effectively manage and reduce binge eating.”
KIMSHealth Hospital clinical dietician Dr Sajitha Rajesh explains what happens to a person’s body when they binge eat.
“First of all, you gain a lot of weight, possibly quickly,” she said.
“This starts to put a lot of stress on your body, especially your organs. In turn, this leads to sleep issues such as sleep deprivation, which makes the person constantly feel lethargic.
“Additionally, binge eating can result in constipation, which could potentially result in haemorrhoids and bloating, which causes stomach pain, discomfort and gas.
“Therefore, it is important to seek psychological help from a mental health professional and dietician to treat this disorder.
It can also be corrected by educating people about healthy eating habits and lifestyle changes and encouraging them to eat only when they need to, and regularly exercise.
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