How Binge Eating Affects the Body?

Overeating is consuming more calories than are necessary to maintain health. When there is a loss of control, it becomes compulsive overeating.  Binge eating disorder (BED) is a mental health condition that involves frequent recurring episodes of compulsive overeating, long past feeling full, in a short time period. It leads to negative feelings like guilt, low self-esteem, shame, embarrassment, remorse, and self-disgust. It physically changes the way the body works, creating havoc in our systems. Most compulsive overeaters with BED, suffer from other psychological disorders (especially depression and anxiety) as well as other addictions and compulsions.

Health Issues Caused By Binge Eating Disorder

When someone overeats on special occasions, they experience a sore and stuffed belly. However, binging on a regular basis for many years will ultimately lead to serious  physical health issues that can be fatal. Listed below are some of the health ramifications brought on by BED:

Weight Gain and Obesity

Weight gain is very common among those of us suffering from binge eating disorder. Studies show that two-thirds of patients suffering from BED also suffer from obesity. With BED, there is a loss of control. We feel compelled to eat more and more food until there is nothing left or we’re in so much pain we have to stop. When doing this frequently, binging leads to a large amount of weight gain. Being obese in turn subjects the body to a higher risk of contracting terminal illnesses like sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease, cancer, arthritis, type 2 diabetes, kidney, liver and gallbladder issues, acute pancreatitis, and high blood pressure.

Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)

Compulsively overeating foods with high-fat, high-salt, and high-sugar content during binges contributes to the high cholesterol and blood sugar levels as well as high blood pressure. High cholesterol in the body can clog and damage arteries, hence interfering with blood flow to the brain. Carrying the extra weight is strenuous for our hearts to pump blood throughout the body. When there is a lot of fat around the midsection, the probability of suffering from cardiovascular disease (CVD) increases. Therefore, binging leads us to be at a higher risk of a stroke, heart attack, or having heart disease. Compulsive overeaters with BED need to have a medical check-up to diagnose CVD. Some of the common symptoms are chest pain, fast heartbeat, sweating, and shortness of breath, dizziness, and fainting.

Sleep Problems

Medical studies and researches show BED leading to a higher risk of developing sleep issues, such as sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a sleeping condition, which causes breathing to stop when one is asleep. Even though the pauses are brief, they tend to occur frequently and can ultimately be fatal. The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive which is caused by fat building up around the airways. So, there is difficulty breathing which interferes with the quality of sleep. A sleep test is required to diagnose sleep apnea. Without proper medical equipment, there is an increased chance of ventilatory failure leading to fatal cardiorespiratory arrest. This can be due to not waking up enough to start breathing again. Having sleep apnea also increases the risk of suffering from type 2 diabetes and other cardiovascular diseases.

Joint Problems

Excessive weight affects the joints of the body. Osteoarthritis is the wearing out of the cartilage between the joints. It can affect any joint, for example, the hands, fingers, hips, lower back, and knees. With time, joints can become very painful and stiff, affecting mobility. It becomes very difficult to do basic tasks like walking and lifting.

Organ Diseases

Binging affects the whole body. It not only affects the heart, but other organs tend to suffer too. Compulsive overeaters and the obese are at higher risk of having kidney diseases, which are triggered by Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular diseases. When too much weight is gained in a short period of time, it can damage the gallbladder which can create painful gallstones. For me, that led to acute pancreatitis which was almost fatal. BED can also lead to fat build-up in the liver causing fatty liver disease.  Having too much fat in the liver can cause scarring and if severe, liver failure.

Type 2 Diabetes

Compulsive overeaters are at risk to develop Type 2 Diabetes. It’s caused by the body's inability to produce enough insulin to maintain healthy sugar levels in the blood. Type 2 Diabetics are usually required to take insulin injections to supplement the amount produced by the body. To effectively manage diabetes, it is necessary to make lifestyle changes, especially eating habits and physical activity. Type 2 Diabetes can also lead to cardiovascular disease.

Fertility and Pregnancy problems

Binge eating disorder can shatter the dreams of someone hoping to have their own children. People suffering from it tend to have fertility problems which in turn affects their chances of getting pregnant. BED and obesity affect the regular timetable of a woman’s menstrual cycle making it hard to get pregnant. Pregnant women who are compulsively overeating are at a higher risk of developing complications during normal deliveries and hence most have to undergo a cesarean section. The mother and baby are at a higher health risk if there is either high blood pressure or blood sugar levels.

Conclusion

If you or someone you know is suffering from BED, it’s important to seek medical attention and as much support as possible before the condition worsens and causes additional health problems.