Even though binge eating is somewhat similar to bulimia, the main difference is that binge eaters don't purge themselves of the food they consumed. What they share with bulimics is the desire or need to find comfort in eating and the fact that all their control is lost when eating.

What are some of the causes of binge eating ?

It is kind of difficult to conclude the exact cause or causes of this disorder. However, research show that the following may be some of the causes:

Dieting – It’s not clear if dieting is a cause of binge eating. It’s critical that fifty percent of the sufferers of binge eating disorder had episodes of binging before they started to diet. Dieting may prolong their recovery.

Depression - No one actually knows for sure if depression is just a symptom or is the main cause of binge eating disorder but it has been noted that fifty percent of the individuals with this disorder have a history of depression or are depressed. Additionally many have low levels of serotonin which is a brain chemical responsible for feelings of happiness and wellbeing.

Genetics – Many researchers have come to the conclusion that genes may in some way be involved as it was found that many members of the same family suffered from this disorder.

Emotional Pressure – Some studies have shown that some individuals who have a tough time handling emotions like sadness, stress, anger etc and even people who have a low self esteem often turn to overeating in order to cope and feel better. They binge eat in order to avoid these different emotions.

Signs that can imply that a person has a binge eating disorder include eating very fast, eating unusually big portions and not stopping even if one is already stuffed. These signs can make it challenging to diagnose binge eating in children and teenagers since they tend to eat a lot more during growth spurts.

The dangers behind binge eating are the same as the effects of obesity: high cholesterol, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and gallbladder complications. There is also a higher chance of cancer, mainly cancer of the esophagus, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, colon and rectum. In women, there is indication of higher rates of death as a result of cancers of the cervix, ovaries, breast and uterus, and in men cancers of the stomach and prostate.

Binge eating often appears like a tidal wave. Suddenly, an enormous hunger attacks you and you can’t fight it. No matter what causes a binge eating attack, it is always challenging to face.

If you want to stop binge eating, you should break the process that got you there in the first place. Usually, you feel a strong craving, rush to the fridge or the fast food restaurant, eat without even thinking about it, and then feel ashamed and guilty after you’re done.

The Pause is a technique by which you distance or separate the craving from the action you take to get the food. Considering that it’s hard to differentiate an emotional craving from true physical hunger, this is something you need to do whenever you are about to eat. When you feel hunger, you need to pause and take some action that will take your mind off your hunger. Some people count to ten and breathe deeply. Others do some sit ups or go for a walk. You need to experiment and find what works for you.