Are eating bouts controlled? – Psychology – Articles |

Factors causing compulsive overeating

Compulsive binge eating, i.e. eating a lot of food, they are only apparently independent of our control. When you carefully consider the situations in which these states occur, you can see some dependencies.

  • Emotions

Very often, when it comes to the influence of certain factors on binge eating, the emotions that precede the occurrence of binge are the trigger factor. Anger, helplessness, disappointment, stress – these are just some of the states that can be “satisfied” (of course only seemingly and for a short while) by eating. After consuming an excessive amount of meals, happiness hormones are released, which make you feel better for a while. It is, however illusory belieffor after a while they appear remorseand the mood feedback deteriorates. Although such a pattern can be observed, it turns out that at the root of compulsive overeating, incorrect coping with emotions in everyday situations is quite rarely.

  • Restrictive or chaotic eating pattern

According to research and clinical experience, after prolonged use restrictive diets, which significantly reduce the amount of calories consumed per day, increase the likelihood of binge eating. It is caused by hungerthat is felt constantly during these types of diets. At some point, the body begins to insist increasing the amount of energy supplied which results in a compulsive attack. A similar mechanism works in the case of chaotic a way of eating that lacks regular meals, which also negatively affects not only physical but also mental aspects, causing anger, irritability. These emotions largely contribute to the appearance of an attack which, as mentioned above, “helps” to defuse them.

  • Search for a solution

So it’s very important to introduce yourself to deal with binge eating changes in your diet. It is crucial that there is one balanced and meals eaten at regular intervals, and that they are properly adjusted to the needs of the body (dependent on many, height, sex, lifestyle) in terms of calories. Several aspects that must be strictly observed in order to be able to tell about healthy diet have:

  • eating meals at intervals of 3 – 4 hours. This is important because sugar levels drop after you abstain from food for a long time. Failure to respond to the physiological cues of this increases the likelihood of overeating when our “persistence” in maintaining this resolution is over;
  • consumption constant amount of meals: 3 main courses and 3 snacks – which is the optimal number for a healthy diet;
  • regular eating meals at regular intervals.

Following the principles of a healthy diet is the easiest way to dealing with bouts of compulsive overeating. In this case, even difficult events that provoke unpleasant emotions will not be able to provoke a binge eating attack, and we will have the opportunity to having control over them. 

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