Don't Underestimate Failed Weight Loss Attempts, Repeated Failures Can Lead to Binge Eating Disorder
Last week, a good friend of mine developed binge eating disorder. You probably think she's a lazy person, but that's not the case. In my opinion, she's a very hardworking girl and isn't overly overweight. However, when I saw her again a few days ago, she had completely changed. She had become much thinner, looking like she had gained hundreds of pounds. I was very puzzled; she had been diligently pursuing her weight loss plan before, why was she getting fatter instead of slimmer?
It's because she had repeatedly tried dieting and failed, which led to binge eating. Today, let's delve into binge eating disorder. Binge eating is characterized by eating excessively and in large quantities. The prevalence of binge eating disorder is actually quite low – in 2018, the World Health Organization reported it to be only 1.4% in the incidence rate across fourteen countries in four continents. Because of this low prevalence, the disorder is often overlooked.
So, what causes binge eating disorder? There are mainly several aspects:
1. Negative Emotions
Binge eating often produces noticeable negative emotions, and the increase in negative emotions further exacerbates eating habits. For example, as we mentioned earlier, repeated dieting failures. This significantly reduces herself-confidence,leading to the subsequent emergence of negative emotions. This, combined with work or life pressures, can ultimately overwhelm her, leading her to use food for relaxation, eventually resulting in binge eating disorder.
However, after eating, she realizes she's made a mistake, and guilt follows, which further intensifies the negative emotions. This creates a negative cycle.
2. Lack of Self-Control
Generally, people who develop binge eating disorder have a low level of self-control. When their stomachs are hungry, they stop training instead of replenishing their energy. Also, the unrestrained dietary choices in everyday eating contribute to the development of binge eating disorder.
3. Food Dependency
In the medical field, dependence on drugs is referred to as addiction, and dependence on alcohol is called alcoholism. Similarly, dependence on food, prolonged over time, can also lead to addiction. During this period of addiction, if the demand is stopped, the person will experience unbearable suffering. For example, a fitness enthusiast who develops binge eating disorder will experience anxiety, irritability, and anger if their appetite isn't satisfied. This is why they oftenfind it difficult to stop binge eating.
Now that we know the three causes of binge eating disorder, what benefits does it have for our weight loss journey? As we all know,dieting is the foundation of weight loss, and controlling one's diet is equivalent to controlling the source of fat.When someone has binge eating disorder, they consume excessive amounts of food, leading to an uncontrolled intake of fat.
Therefore, when we're dieting, we need to understand that failure is normal. After failing, we can learn from it, summarize the experience, adjust our mindset, and then start a new weight loss plan, which greatly increases our chances of success.If you find that you have a food dependency and have developed binge eating disorder, don't panic. Try to reduce your food intake gradually, and over time, your dietary habits will improve significantly. And as much as possible, focus onchanging your emotions, improving your self-control, and reducing food dependency
in these three aspects to solve the problem of binge eating disorder. We hope that after reading this article, you will find it helpful!
