The Secret Life of A Binge Eater: Tackling compulsive eating

IT CAN WREAK HAVOC ON YOUR HEALTH AND YOUR RELATIONSHIPS, BUT TACKLING COMPULSIVE EATING TAKES AN EMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT APPROACH

A bsentmindedly munching your way through an entire packet of biscuits while engrossed in Netflix could be considered a late night ‘snaccident’ but, for a growing number of people in the UAE, compulsive eating is putting their health at risk.

“The precise prevalence of eating disorders in the MENA region is difficult to pinpoint, but anecdotal evidence and cultural factors suggest it may be higher than in other parts of the world,” says Carine el Khazen, Clinical Psychologist of American Center for Psychiatry and Neurology (ACPN), which runs an eating disorders outpatient service at its branches in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. “We are seeing a rising number of adults affected by binge eating, which results in the same health risks associated with clinical obesity, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. The disorder also has an impact on relationships with family, friends and colleagues, causing sufferers to feel more isolated. Plus, binge eaters are also at a greater risk of psychiatric issues such as anxiety and depression. This it what makes it challenging to spot and, in turn, to be able to encourage those who are affected to seek help.”

According to Middle East Eating Disorders Association (MEEDA), binge eating disorder (BED) is characterised by excessive eating in a short space of time – even when the person isn’t hungry. Binges are usually planned – almost like a ritual – with special foods being eaten in private. Unlike other eating disorders such as bulimia, however, binge-eating episodes aren’t followed by purging, like making yourself sick or taking laxatives, as an attempt to control weight. Both men and women can be affected and it’s most commonly experienced in those aged 20 to 40.

Complex causes

The reasons why binge eating disorder develops can be complex, with emotional and even cultural triggers among the most common culprits.

“In many cases, BED links back to an emotional trigger that occurred in childhood before the age of seven,” says Naser Al Riyami, a clinical psychologist who specialises in hypnosis and neuro-linguistic psychology at online wellness resource Enritsch (enritsch.com). “If you were upset as a child and your grandmother fed you your favourite food to feel better, for instance, this can develop into compulsive eating as a way to process stress in adulthood.

“There is also a wave of people in the UAE who have come from war-torn countries where food was sparse at some point in their youth and who now binge eat regularly because they subconsciously fear that food could be cut off again at some point,” he adds.

BED can also be due to a physiological issue, such as ‘hunger hormones’ failing to flag when you are full and satisfied, or simply bad habits spiralling out of control.

“In some cultures, there is also the habit of overfeeding babies as there is the belief that the chubbier the baby is, the more likely he or she is to survive,” says Naser. “Again, in adulthood this can manifest in overeating as a reaction to stressful situations.”

Low self-esteem, feeling guilty or ashamed and socially isolated can all be part of the picture. “The relationship between weight, size and health is a complex one,” explains Carine. “Raising awareness of the common signs and symptoms of binge eating disorder, however, is an important step toward

helping those affected to get the support and treatment

they need.”

Road to recovery

Generally speaking, if someone binges at least once a week over a period of three months or more, they could have BED.

“Often people don’t recognise they have a problem until an associated health problem stops them in their tracks and their doctor picks up on it,” says Naser. “Usually, uncovering body dysmorphic disorder in patients can help reveal it.”

If you think that you or a friend may be affected, take the ACPC Eating Attitudes Test, which measures the symptoms and characteristics of eating disorder and can help pinpoint red flags for BED.

“The next step would be to refer these patients to a clinical psychologist in order for a confirmed diagnosis to be made and a treatment plan developed,” says Carine.

“IN SOME CULTURES, THERE IS ALSO THE HABIT OF OVERFEEDING BABIES AS THERE IS THE BELIEF THAT THE CHUBBIER THE BABY IS, THE MORE LIKELY HE ORS HEIST O SURVIVE”

“It’s advisable to stop any weight loss measures the patient is currently taking as this can actually be triggering the binge eating as, when the body feels deprived, it will demand food as a survival instinct. We can then turn to psychotherapy to help tackle the emotional aspect. If the individual is overweight or needs to lose weight for medical reasons, this can be addressed once the binge eating has been treated and resolved through sustainable and realistic lifestyle changes that can be stuck to in the long term.”

“Instead of turning to surgery as a solution that effectively punishes people for binge eating through a form of aversion therapy – stomach stapling to stamp out overeating, for instance – it’s kinder and more effective if the emotional aspects are addressed,” agrees Naser. “Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) can help, as can hypnosis, by helping to shed light on the triggers and reprogramming the mind so that when those familiar feelings arise we can choose to manage them in a different way rather than overindulging in food. Learning more about nutrition can also be a useful tool. “Many people count calories but have no idea about the nutrition they are getting from food,”says Naser.“It’s important to have a balance of minerals such as zinc and copper in the body, for instance, as it can have a marked effect on behaviour. Only when people learn these new habits and start putting them into practise can they break free from the unhealthy cycle of binge eating and move on to leading a healthier life.” n