Binge Eating Disorder (BED): A Real, Severe, and Treatable Behavioral Health Condition

Thrive • Mar 04, 2022

By Thrive Waco’s Executive Director Erin McGinty Fort, M.S., MHA, LPC-S, CEDS-S

WHAT IS BINGE EATING DISORDER (BED)?

Binge eating disorder (BED) is a type of eating disorder characterized by frequently eating large amounts of food within short periods of time. Individuals with BED may feel a loss of control while binging and afterwards can experience significant feelings of shame, guilt, and distress.

When most people think about an individual with an eating disorder, they envision someone who is young, white, thin, and wealthy. Most media portrayals of eating disorders, such that depicted by Lily Collins in “To the Bone,” reinforce this idea. In fact, many would assume that anorexia is the most common eating disorder in the United States.

However, according to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) , BED is actually the most common type of eating disorder in the United States, and can affect men and women of all ages and sizes. This is important to note because it has become so normal to associate weight and appearance with whether or not someone has an eating disorder. Individuals who struggle with binge eating can be of any weight, shape, or size, and many are at what people would consider to be a “normal” weight. For that reason, it’s helpful to be aware of other signs or symptoms that may indicate someone is struggling with BED.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF BINGE EATING

Eating large quantities of food, even if not hungry
Eating secretively
Feeling out of control during and/or after a binge episode
Feeling shame, disgust, or sadness following binges
Feeling uncomfortably full after eating
Sometimes individuals will become physically ill after a binge
Some people will attempt to “get back on track,” or “reset” after binging. For many, this can mean that they return to a cycle of restriction, depriving themselves of foods that they enjoy, compulsive exercise, or other unhealthy behaviors to compensate
Many people diet frequently and embrace any new fads surrounding eating and weight loss
Some, but not all, can experience significant fluctuations in their weight

For further insight into signs of eating disorders, you can assess disordered eating behaviors here .

WHAT’S BEHIND BINGE EATING?

Binge eating has many different types of triggers. Some individuals binge out of hunger because they are restricting their food intake throughout the day and simply are not meeting their nutritional needs. Many people cut foods that they enjoy out of their day-to-day intake, yet continue to crave those foods. When people feel deprived of what they enjoy eating, they may end up binging on these foods later on.

Emotions can also play a role in triggering binge eating. Feelings such as stress, anxiety, loneliness, anger, and even joy can trigger someone to binge. Usually, an individual is looking to the food itself or the act of binging to meet some type of emotional need. For example, a person who feels overwhelmed with life’s demands might only find relief from that stress in the midst of a binge episode. Food can also represent comfort and some may use binge eating as a way to self-soothe.

People can also binge eat out of habit. Sometimes, when we are sitting with a client at Thrive and ask them about why they binge, they might say, “I don’t know anymore” or “It’s what I’ve always done.”

No matter what is triggering the binge eating, it is more common than many realize. The behavior is a pattern that people feel a great deal of shame about, which can make it very difficult to seek help without fear of judgment from a medical or mental health provider.

STEPS TO TAKE IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE NEEDS HELP WITH BINGE EATING

Many of our clients have had painful and invalidating experiences with providers who are not educated about eating disorders, especially binge eating. Sometimes, said clinicians will recommend that clients lose weight, which can reinforce the belief that their weight is the issue. Those who are seeking help for themselves or a loved one should turn to providers who are knowledgeable and competent in treating eating disorders. These providers will look beyond weight and appearance to assess the whole person, which is in alignment with the Health at Every Size (HAES) approach .

THRIVE’S APPROACH TO EATING DISORDER TREATMENT

Thrive values a multidisciplinary approach to treating people with eating disorders, and BED is no exception to that. Our teams include therapists, dietitians, psychiatrists, and primary care providers who work together to treat the whole person with compassion, non-judgment, and respect. Our hope is that for our clients who have become afraid to seek medical and mental health care as a result of negative experiences, Thrive offers a reparative experience that clients find nurturing, healing, and empowering.

To learn more about Thrive’s nutritional philosophy and approach to eating disorder treatment, or to start the process of finding help for yourself or someone you love, please reach out.

About the Author

Thrive Waco’s Executive Director Erin McGinty Fort, MS, MHA, LPC-S, CEDS-S

Erin is a licensed professional counselor and supervisor in the state of Texas and has her graduate degrees in both Counseling and Health Administration. She is a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist through the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (iaedp), which allows clients to rest assured that they are receiving care from a highly trained, competent, and skilled provider in the area of eating disorders. She is a professional member of both iaedp and the Academy for Eating Disorders. She has specialized training in anxiety disorders, trauma, and perinatal mental health.

She has regularly provided eating disorder training and conference presentations to medical and mental health professionals.

A transplant from the Midwest, Erin has embraced Texas as her home. When not working at Thrive Waco, she enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, and furry son.

The post Binge Eating Disorder (BED): A Real, Severe, and Treatable Behavioral Health Condition first appeared on Thrive Wellness.

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Clean House, Healthy Mind: Spring Cleaning Benefits for Mental Health

By Sage Tippie • 23 Apr, 2024

Spring Cleaning Benefits for Mental Health Spring is a time of new beginnings, change, and transitions, including in our homes. With the warmer weather kicking motivation into high gear, Spring can be a prime time to do a deep clean. Not only is a clean space aesthetically pleasing to the eyes, but it can also help to improve your mental health. Learn about how tidying up your space can also tidy up your thoughts below along with tips for cleaning when you’re struggling with your mental health. 4 Reasons Why Cleaning is Beneficial to Mental health 1.Decreased Stress Not only does an uncluttered space provide a sense of calm, but the physical act of cleaning can release feel-good endorphins, reducing feelings of stress and anxiety. As you cross tasks off your checklist, your body also releases Dopamine. Also known as the “happy hormone”, Dopamine provides a sense of accomplishment and pride that can promote motivation in other areas of our lives. 2. Improved Focus Studies have shown that an uncluttered space can also lead to an uncluttered mind. Your focus can be drawn away from important tasks by a chaotic, messy space. Research has also shown a connection between procrastination and clutter, as an unwillingness to tackle larger chores like cleaning can translate over into various areas of our lives. By keeping your space tidy, it can inspire you to stay on top of other major tasks like work and school assignments. 3. Regulated Emotions According to this 2015 study , cleaning can function as a practice in mindfulness, providing an increased sense of calm and inspiration. Slowing down while cleaning gives you room to relax and free your mind of burdens, stressors, and irritants that can affect your mental health. Cleaning can even be considered a practice of self-care as the action helps you to connect with yourself and the outcome allows you to better enjoy your own space. 4. Sense of Order and Control When experiencing mental health struggles, people may feel a lack of control over their lives and emotions. Cleaning even small areas of the home can provide an increased sense of order and control as you cross tasks off your to-do list. Through realizing your own power by simply completing minor tasks like cleaning, it can reaffirm your ability to do more. 10 Tips for Cleaning When Struggling with Mental Health Mental health struggles and disorders commonly create barriers to one’s ability to clean and properly practice personal hygiene. Although these behaviors are normal side effects of mental health disorders, we want to work to aid our clients in cleaning to the best of their ability even in difficult times. Below, Thrive Wellness occupational therapist Meadow Deason shares some helpful tips she gives to clients when they struggle with cleaning due to mental health conditions: 1.Ask For Help Having support to clean can make a huge difference. Do the cleaning with the person helping you and have them hold you accountable. 2. Don't Wait for Motivation Motivation might not come before action, but it can build as you begin to see the results of your efforts. 3. Start Small Start with one area or one task and go from there. For example, concentrate on your bedroom first and then move on to the living room and bathroom. 4. Do Something Daily Even if you do only one small cleaning task a day, doing that one task creates momentum and prevents small tasks from building up and becoming overwhelming. 5. Use Sensory Modulation Change your environment by playing music, adjusting the lighting, or using aromatherapy. This can help to put you in a new headspace for cleaning. 6. Start with "High Impact" Tasks Start with more intensive or all-over cleaning tasks such as picking up clutter or doing the dishes. The visual "noise" of some tasks makes a large impact on the entire space, building motivation to continue cleaning. 7. Make a To-Do List Write a detailed to-do list of tasks and cross them off as you go. Physically marking down what you’ve accomplished can promote increased motivation. 8. Reward Yourself Set up a reward system where you reward yourself with a favorite activity or item when you complete a task as an incentive to clean. 9. Use the Rocket Method Don't think about it, just choose a task, countdown from five or ten and then start. This can help you to avoid potential anxiety and dread that can prevent you from cleaning. 10. Gamify Tasks Make up a game for your tasks or time yourself to promote increased engagement in cleaning. Your ability to complete tasks can be affected by a multitude of different factors and conditions including OCD , anxiety, depression , ADHD , and more. If you are struggling with motivation due to your mental health, help is here at Thrive Wellness.

child getting bandaid from doctor while mother smiles

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26 Mar, 2024

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