Binge eating essay - Assignment PDF

Preview

Summary

Assignment...

Description

1

Binge Eating Disorder Risks and Treatment Options Tiffany Smith Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Grand Canyon University PSY-352: Health Psychology Dr. Diehl September 26, 2021

2 Binge Eating Disorder Risks and Treatment Options Eating disorders are very serious illnesses. They are not just an eating disorder they are a true mental illness and can affect anyone from children to adults. “Eating disorders are among the deadliest mental illnesses, second only to opioid overdose” (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, 2021). There are so many different forms of eating disorders that people deal with. In this case we will be discussing Binge eating disorder. Binge eating is a common eating disorder that many people deal with and experience. “People with binge eating disorder have episodes of binge eating in which they consume large quantities of food in a brief period, experience a sense of loss of control over their eating and are distressed by the binge behavior” (American Psychiatric Association, 2021). Binge eating is not just a person over- eating or overindulging. It is a mental illness that causes people to consume large amounts of food on purpose for the simple fact of wanting to consume large quantities of food. This essay will discuss the factors, signs, symptoms, and risks that can be contributors to Binge eating disorder. It will also discuss the treatment options that individuals have available them. Factors There are many different factors that can contribute to an individual having a Binge eating disorder. One factor that can lead a person to begin binge eating is Family history. Dieting can also be a huge factor for individuals to develop this type of disorder. If an individual is having trouble with any sort of diet, then it can set of something in their mind and dieting can be a catalyst for them to start to binge eat. Binge eating is a mental illness so any individual that is going through any type of psychological issues is at risk for a binge eating disease. “Triggers for bingeing can include stress, poor body self-image and the availability of preferred binge foods” (Mayo-Clinic Staff, 2018). When a person is suffering from Binge eating, they have usually

3 witnessed someone in their family dealing with it. Normally, it is a family member such as a parent or sibling that has dealt with binge eating in the past or is currently dealing with it. “This may indicate that inherited genes increase the risk of developing an eating disorder” (MayoClinic Staff, 2018). When we look at people who are dealing with binge eating, we can see that they have had a history with dieting. Whether, it means they have failed at diets in the past or are currently trying to restrict their food or caloric intake. Doing so often can trigger a person to start to binge eat, especially if they are in a state of depression or struggling with other mental issues. Signs There are many different signs that point to an individual struggling with binge eating. Some signs of binge eating can be confused for other issues and that is why binge eating is somewhat hard to define at times. To determine if a person is binge eating, they must meet certain criteria. These criteria are that they must have binged for at least a week or more over the past three months. Signs that people should look for are eating fast that normal, the individual eating until they are uncomfortably full, eating large amounts of food when they are not hungry, being embarrassed and eating alone, and finally feeling disgusted or guilty after consuming large amounts of food. “People with binge eating disorder may also have other mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, or substance abuse” (Womenshealth.org, 2018). Symptoms There are many signs of binge eating, but they show up differently in each individual person. One person may show only one or two symptoms while another may show them all. Some of the signs and symptoms are the same. Symptoms include, but are not limited to, eating alone or in secret, frequently dieting, possibly without any weight loss, eating very rapidly while in the middle of a binge episode, feeling that your eating habits are out of control, and finally

4 eating large amounts of food in a specific time frame. Most people that are experiencing issues or symptoms of binge eating are extremely overweight or even obese. This is not the case for all people with a binge eating disorder. Some people can be of average or normal weight. “Unlike people with bulimia nervosa however, they do not regularly use compensatory behaviors to get rid of the food by inducing vomiting, fasting, exercising or laxative misuse” (American Psychiatric Association, 2021). Binge eating can lead to serious health issues as well. Individuals dealing with this chronic condition can become severely obese, develop diabetes, hypertension, and even cardiovascular diseases. They will also have issues functioning in their daily lives while at work or other social situations. Individuals can develop GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease, and even sleep-related breathing problems. They will isolate themselves from loved ones because they are ashamed of what they are doing and do not want others to know. All in all, they will have a poor quality of life, generally. Treatments When a person is struggling with Binge eating disorder there are treatments available for them. Not all treatments are the right fit for each individual, so they must find the right fit for themselves. Some people can start a journal and get their feelings and thoughts out onto paper. Putting into words what your feelings and actions have in common is a great way to figure out what is happening in your life to trigger certain things. Other forms of treatment include Psychotherapy. This could be Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Interpersonal psychotherapy, and Dialectical behavior therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help people learn to cope with the issues that initially trigger their binge eating episodes. This then gives you a better feeling of control over yourself and your behavior. Interpersonal therapy may include focusing on your relationships with the people around you. It can help build your interpersonal skills. This

5 helps you learn to relate more to the people around you in your everyday life such as family members and co-workers. Dialectical behavior therapy will help you learn to regulate the persons emotions and stress. Once the individual has done this, they will have improved relationships with others, and it reduces their stress and want to binge eat. There are also medications that people that binge eat can take to help them stop the urge. Topiramate (Topamax) an anticonvulsant can be used to help control binge eating. This drug is normally used to treat seizures and can have serious side effects, so the patient needs to weigh the risks verses the benefits. Antidepressants can be used to treat binge eating as well. Since binge eating is a mental illness these types of medications can be helpful. Other medications that can be used are Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (Vyvanse) which is a drug for attention-deficit hyperactivity. Unfortunately, this drug can be very habit forming though. There are also behavioral weight loss programs, Clinical trials, and finally lifestyle and home remedies that can also be effective. Having a great personal support system is also very important for people to be able to succeed and overcome binge eating. Conclusion Binge eating is something that many people struggle with and fight daily. It is a mental illness that has many harmful side effects that can be detrimental to a person’s health. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of binge eating is the first step in a person recognizing they have a problem and need to get help. There are treatment options available and each individual needs to find the right fit for themselves. The first step is acknowledging they have a problem, and they want to get help. Once they come to that conclusion, they just need to stick to it and accomplish their goals. References

6 National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. (2021, March 3). Eating Disorder Statistics | General & Diversity Stats | ANAD. https://anad.org/getinformed/about-eating-disorders/eating-disorders-statistics/? gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7rzHiM-b8wIVUG1vBB2AUA-VEAAYASAAEgLgdvD_BwE Binge-eating disorder - Symptoms and causes. (2018, May 5). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/binge-eating-disorder/symptomscauses/syc-20353627 What Are Eating Disorders? (2021b). Psychiatry.Org. https://www.psychiatry.org/patientsfamilies/eating-disorders/what-are-eating-disorders Binge eating disorder. (2018). Womenshealth.Org. https://www.womenshealth.gov/mentalhealth/mental-health-conditions/eating-disorders/binge-eating-disorder Binge-eating disorder - Diagnosis and treatment - Mayo Clinic. (2018, May 5). Binge-Eating Disorder- Diagnosis and Treatment. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseasesconditions/binge-eating-disorder/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353633...