Dangers of Binge Eating

If you are struggling with binge eating disorder, you are not alone. There are many outlets available that offer you support. Many are ashamed of seeking out help, but it is vital that you fight your binge eating disorder, as it may be detrimental to your psychological and physical health. The consequences of binge eating will be discussed to inform you on the harm that it is causing on your health.

What are the Consequences of My Binge Eating?

There are many possible dangers to your physical and psychological health associated with binge eating disorder. Your binge eating is causing an increased risk of high blood pressure and high cholesterol, as your diet is likely to contain high amounts of salt and saturated fat. Binge eating also puts you at serious risk of heart disease due to the high amounts of fat being consumed. As a binge eater, you may also consume an excess of carbs and sugar, which can lead to Type II diabetes.
The most obvious physical effect binge eating will have is weight gain. If you are gaining weight due to your binge eating, this is a definite warning sign of possible illness later on. Gaining large amounts of weight from an unhealthy diet puts you at serious risk of the diseases listed above. It also puts you at risk of heart attack, stroke, blood clots, sleep apnea, and other illnesses. Weight gain will also put you at risk of arthritis and join pain as your body is carrying more weight than it is meant to handle.

 

One of the most serious consequences to your binge eating can be developing certain cancers. Cancer cells feed off of sugar, which is often a main part of a binge eater’s diet. It is vital that you cut down on your sugar intake, and visit a doctor for suggestions on dieting as binge eating puts you at an increased risk of cancer. Your doctor will greatly aid you in losing weight, and may refer you to a therapist to help you fight back against binge eating.

There are also many psychological consequences to binge eating. If you struggle with binge eating, it is likely that you suffer from stress, depression, anxiety, and/or drug abuse. Binge eating will add on to the stress and anxiety that you are already feeling, as you are plagued by feelings of shame and guilt after each binge eating episode. Depression is also commonly associated with binge eating, as both illness are partly caused by a deficiency in serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter associated with energy and hunger regulation. This is the reason your therapist may prescribe you an anti-depressant if you are struggling with binge eating even if you do not have depression, as anti-depressants increase your levels of serotonin.

Binge eating has also shown to increase your risk of suicidal thoughts. If you are having suicidal thoughts, you should seek out professional immediately. There is no shame in seeking out professional help, as many are in a similar situation. Moreover, many see progress in their behavior within the first few weeks of therapy.

Conclusion

It has been shown that binge eating can have detrimental effects on your physical and psychological health. The best approach is to seek out professional help from a therapist so as to get to the root cause of your binge eating. Although you may have doubts, you are worth the fight over binge eating. It is time to live happily.