Barbara Brody, writer for WebMD, stated in an article reviewed by Joseph Goldberg, MD, that food providing our bodies with fuel is not the only reason for eating. Emotions can have a strong impact. Brody said you might eat due to being, “happy (birthday cake!), sad (who hasn't indulged in ice cream after a bad day?), or stressed (that 3 p.m. office chocolate break).” Of course, a once in a while treat in a healthy diet is no problem. However, if it occurs frequently, you may have a binge eating disorder. Thankfully, there are ways to figure out if your eating is due to emotions.
One sign is if you eat after something stressful happens. Hunger is not affected by reasons such as a fight or having a lot of tasks to be done. Brody stated, …show more content…
If hungry, it is okay to have a preference, but other options should still be desirable. If only content by eating things such as donuts or chips, “assume the urge to eat is emotional,” states Brody.
There are some myths about binge eating disorders. The first myth is thinking you have the disorder because you eat due to being upset or anxious.
It is true some eat to numb emotions such as pain or sadness. However, most people who turn to food because of how they are feeling do not have binge eating disorder. Randy Flanery, PhD, program director for Webster Wellness Professionals in St. Louis, MO stated, “We all have our comfort foods.” Brody stated if you binge, you eat considerably more than others. People with the disorder believe they have no control of their eating during a binge. They also feel upset, guilty, or shameful about the binge. Brody stated “If that sounds like you, see a mental health expert for proper diagnosis and treatment.”
The second myth is that eating a large amount of food in one sitting indicates you have a binge eating disorder. A binge is eating a large amount of food in a short amount of time. Russell Marx, MD, chief science officer for the National Eating Disorders Association says, “A lot of people -- some estimates say 80% of people -- binge occasionally. Just think
One sign is if you eat after something stressful happens. Hunger is not affected by reasons such as a fight or having a lot of tasks to be done. Brody stated, …show more content…
If hungry, it is okay to have a preference, but other options should still be desirable. If only content by eating things such as donuts or chips, “assume the urge to eat is emotional,” states Brody.
There are some myths about binge eating disorders. The first myth is thinking you have the disorder because you eat due to being upset or anxious.
It is true some eat to numb emotions such as pain or sadness. However, most people who turn to food because of how they are feeling do not have binge eating disorder. Randy Flanery, PhD, program director for Webster Wellness Professionals in St. Louis, MO stated, “We all have our comfort foods.” Brody stated if you binge, you eat considerably more than others. People with the disorder believe they have no control of their eating during a binge. They also feel upset, guilty, or shameful about the binge. Brody stated “If that sounds like you, see a mental health expert for proper diagnosis and treatment.”
The second myth is that eating a large amount of food in one sitting indicates you have a binge eating disorder. A binge is eating a large amount of food in a short amount of time. Russell Marx, MD, chief science officer for the National Eating Disorders Association says, “A lot of people -- some estimates say 80% of people -- binge occasionally. Just think