Due to the rise of obesity in today’s society everyone is trying to achieve quick weight loss. This is dangerous, and can lead to developing binge eating disorder. Eating disorders are psychiatric issues in one’s eating habits. Tabloids display the secret eating disorders of celebrities and music artists. Yet the news never discuss how dangerous these eating disorders really are, and how common they are.
Most quick weight loss techniques require extreme unrealistic diets. Obviously these diets never keep the weight off. Even if a diet works, often the pounds lost are gained back slowly simply because no one can stay on a diet forever. The problem with quick weight loss attempts is that they often require you to avoid junk foods and fast foods. This often leads to binge eating.
Binge eating is eating very large amounts of food in a small period of time. Binge eating isn’t related to hunger most of the time. Often it’s consuming food beyond the point of satisfying one’s physical hunger. Binge eaters often eat huge amounts of food even when they aren’t really hungry. Binge eating often leads to feelings of guilt or sadness because of the future weight gain it will lead to.
Following the popular advice of diets that recommend avoiding junk foods and fast foods is dangerous. When one avoids such foods, one starts craving them more and more. These carvings get out of control and often lead to binge eating. For example if someone has been avoiding pizza, and then decide to have a slice, they’ll often end up eating a few more slices and lose control.
It’s important to note that binge eating is different from bulimia. Bulimia often involves overeating which is followed by self-induced vomiting, or fasting. Binge eating is one of the leading causes of obesity today. Obesity is very dangerous for one’s health, yet often it’s very tough to treat.
Often obese individuals eat for comfort, and end up developing food addictions. These addictions can also be a form of emotional eating. Emotional eating is basically when one eats not to satisfy physical hunger but rather to deal with tough or negative emotions. Stress eating is a good example where one will consume larger quantities of food on a stressful day.
Binge eating is often kept a secret. A food addict will usually overeat in private to avoid others finding out about their disorderly eating habits. This is why binge eating is very challenging to treat because sufferers keep it a secret. Many will overeat until becoming obese and then will eventually become desperate and seek help.
Therapy is the most common treatment for binge eating. There are also recovery clinics that a binge eater can check into. Also there are many books on the topic where the authors share their own recovery efforts, what worked and what didn’t. There are also support groups such as overeaters anonymous and eating disorder support forums online.
Next time you are considering quick weight loss, think again. Trying to lose weight quickly is unnatural and dangerous. Also being obsessed with your body shape can lead to developing eating disorders. It’s best to lose weight naturally through exercise, and gradually implementing healthier eating habits.
This was a guest post by Andrew B is the author of a binge eating blog which contains tips to recovery from compulsive eating.
Posted on October 4th, 2008 by Andrew Bolis
Filed under: Weight Loss Ramblings
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I’ve probably read 5,000 diet books in my life {OK, I’m exaggerating - it’s only 4,500} and the best one ever IMO is “The Four Day Win” by Martha Beck. She makes a great case for the notion that diets actually CREATE inevitable binge eating. We have a ‘computer’ self, alias The Mind, which is determined to enforce an eating plan on the body which has survived for thousands of years by eating as much as possible to store fat for the inevitable famine.
She has two ideas that have saved me from binge eating multiple times (although not always).
1. When we overeat we aren’t increasing physical pleasure - instead we’re overriding physical discomfort. When I take a few moments and pay attention, I realize that’s exactly what I’m doing - making myself uncomfortable.
2. The demand to eat is nothing but an electrical pattern in the brain and I do NOT have to obey.
I agree to the fact that so called reductive diets (aka quick weight loss) can be pretty harmful to the body and cause Yo-Yo-Effects. I personally deny them.
I have made the expirience, that consuming green tea can help a lot when trying to lose weight.
Thanks for the information
This is a very informative, common sense article! Thanks! It is so easy to step in the quick, fad diet trap. And they simply never work. It is all about adopting a new, healthier lifestyle with lots of activity and exercise. This is the only long term solution.
interesting post very informative , i`m suffering for fat problems , your blog seems to be good for know some thing about nutrition food
great article! thanks for sharing!
Binge eating has really been a problem for a lot of people who want to lose weight. This post is very helpful.
Most people with eating disorders actually have some sort fo other problem - social misfit issues, low self-esteem, career or something like that. Solve that problems, and the eating disorder vanishes.
good article! thanks for sharing!
Wow, I never knew that about the weight. That’s pretty interesting…
Obesity is really a big problem. If you want to lose some weight, you have to make sure that you choose a safe yet effective method.
“..I shall content myself with merely declaring my firm conviction that, for the seeker who would live in fear of God and who would see Him face to face, restraint in diet both as to quantity and quality is as essential as restraint in thought and speech…..”
—Mahatma Gandhi—
Thanks for the informative read. Learnt some stuff.
My most american friends are suffer from obesite. Why ? Help them.
I think natural products are the best, avoid the rest because everything else is “business” not health, i remember the days when almost everything was natural ( i was livig in a village )
Yeah well, the whole binging epidemic is due of course to the enterainment world. Unfortunately, another cause to the whole eating disorder thing has to do with comments made by friends and family members. When I weighed about 160, all of my family members had something to say about it. When I finally shed to the weight to 125 and they saw me for after 5 years of not seeing me, there jaws were on the floor. I rubbed it in their faces too!
Yeah, the body can do strange things when you lose weight too quickly. Like develop gallstones for one, which untreated can lead to more serious gallbladder issues, which then most likely leads to surgical removal. Not fun.
Everything in moderation..
It really is a matter of working with people to teach them what they should eat and how much. There is no diet or quick fix for the whole weight issue.
Thanks for this very informative post. Everything that is unnatural in life is very dangerous and hazards for our organism. It is always better to go easy and slowly, because you never get results over night.
I have found that the best thing to do is be cautious of your fat intake, make sure you get some fruit and veggies in and exercise at least 3 times a week you’ll be fine. Everyone is different but that’s what works for me.
It’s quite true on observing fat people I find that they eat in improper balance and eat when they are not quite hungry.
great and go on we need this kind of information
i agree with that, i tried that every meal eat 20% less than normal , when you feel hungry eat some fruits and yogurt.before 3 hours of sleep don’t eat anything. it worked very well .
Great overview on the dangers of dieting. Unfortunately this is a cycle I’m currently fighting myself, and it’s just not hard on myself, but my wife also. When she met me I was a work-out addict, however between marriage, career, small business startups, blogging on stocks, and caring for 25 arabian horses my exercise habits became eating habits and they are really, really hard to break. I’ll just keep reading, praying, and working at it.
Thanks,
Bill
Interesting article - it’s true what they say about eating what you want in moderation rather than cutting it out entirely and then craving it so much you binge eat and undo all of your hard work.
very very good article! thanks for you
I have seen the site about Obesity for the fist time! Very interesting!
When you change your eating habits try not to associate it with dieting otherwise you’re likely to quit. Think of it as if you’re changing your eating habits to prolong you life, to look younger, etc. Something positive not negative.
The way I maintain my weight and health is by eating breakfast, such as cereal with low or non fat milk and snacking on grapes and low fat cheese with crackers during the day. I usually skip lunch and eat whatever I want for dinner. Good luck!
Dawn
I think that the main reason that diets do not work is because they do not teach us good habits on how to eat healthily. If we can learn the process of balancing healthy eating with exercise in a way that we can personally maintain for the rest of our lives then we should be able to lose weight and keep it off. I am trying at the moment and have lost 21 pounds since April and feel fantastic!
Like most things, balance is needed. As you say, stopping eating junk foods altogether can make things worse. It`s often a case of doing things gradually so your mind and body can get used to any changes.
The best diet I ahve found is getting married, it really give you the incentive to look your best in the wedding photos. We see many people before at our their wedding nearly all of them loose wait.
I believe even if you are not getting married a great deal of weight loss is about having the correct mind set.
Regards
Adrian
For me discipline is the key to weight loss
Binge eating is really bad and I know friends that have taken this method, eating breakfast, lunch and dinner is the best way to lose weight in the long run. Eat healthily and regular exercise and as said balance.
i agree with Angie. If we stop doing something we like dramatically thn it will cause stress and agony, and it will sure make things worse
Good advice. Exercise is the most important aspect (and the one that we often DO NOT want to do). However, I have seen people use each fad diet to no avail. Sure there are complications, like addictions, etc., but that the end of the day, you need to balance your calories expended, with the ones ingested.
Can anybody tell me, what would happen if i stop eating like my normal day ?
Binge eating is one of major failure in diet. Skipping meal is one the triggers of binge eating
Dieting is not an answer. Diets fail. The best way to get on a healthy track is to start eating healthy and limit portions. How can anyone lose weight when we have things such as buffets. Limit your portions, eat slowly so that your brain can catch up on the fact that you’re full, and try to exercise… and if thats too much then engage in more activities such as going for a walk. Start small, finish “small” Has worked for many I know.
its very sad to see kids these days that are way overweight. you would think that there parents would have deterred them from this.
Binge eating is definitely a problem, though I disagree about the point to NOT avoid junk food. Since insulin is spiked from many of the junk foods we eat, that is a big part of why we crave more and more. It is true that avoiding completely is nearly impossible, but you really need to cut out a huge percentage to be successful.
This is a very good article for good diet, exercise is a must. We need to learn balancing eating with exercise.
My roommate’s brother Pete used to be a binge eater for years. He’s recovered for the most part, but it’s a daily struggle for him and his girlfriend.
Its so difficult to lose weight with all the tempting sin foods out there.
I agree , when you diet you tend to feel deprived and when you get the chance to be able to eat a junkfood you really like ( i.e , Pizza and Doughnuts !! ) , bam! you go into binge mode , and its very very hard to stop , if feels so good and you just can’t stop.
And struggling with ones weight is a very frustrating experience , one can easily say ” hmmm I guess I can spend an hour or two working out five or six times a week” however when outside factors add in maintaining or even beginning such a weekly workout schedule will become very difficult ( i.e a very hard day at work , a hectic work schedule )
@Jack, sorry but I have never heard of the body developing gallstones by losing weight too fast. I guess if you see this post you might come back and let us know where you got that information from.
Its something that perhaps more of us should pay attention to, but what was the context in which the gallstones developed?
The first few pounds or kilograms that most of us lose is really water, Jack.
If after that, we lose weight rapidly the major body system to watch is the kidneys since the fat frequently contains toxic heavy metal that must be flushed through the kidneys.
So, kidney support using something like concentrated dandelion extract or some other direct kidney supplement is highly recommended.
Regards
Trevor the Game guy.
nice fact about food and obesity
It’s true, binge eating is what got me to 278 pounds. And that’s a tough way to live, especially when you have kids. It takes a lot of effort to adjust your eating and stop bingeing, but with time I have been able to stop *most* of my old binge eating habits, and lost 63 pounds. Still working hard… those habits are still there and I struggle at times, but I know the good habits are taking over and I will get to a normal weight eventually!
Nice article. In my opinion the best treatment of binge eating is self control. I think everybody should control himself or herself to stay fit.
Very interesting article. It teach me a lot of Binge eating. I also believe that self control is the key to overcome all these problems.
Is dieting really safe for your health? I believe models diet a lot and this what makes them look so anorexic.
hi
‘’The demand to eat is nothing but an electrical pattern in the brain and I do NOT have to obey. ‘’ great post thanx.bye
Thanks for providing such nice information. And, how will be using of obesity capsules like Reductil or Xenical????
How will be the effect of using pills?
We had a serious discussion last night with my wife as someone recommended her some kind of new weight loss medication. However, I’m totally against it and don’t know what the secondary effects will be (SE always are) so she changed her mind in the end. It’s true the the society is dealing with a lot of obesity problems these days. People have to change the way they think, breat, eat and treat each other - all the other things are going to come along.
Huang
Using pills can be really scary, just make sure they are safe and make sure you are not having any side effects!
Thanks for this article. My father was a binge eater ( he wouldn’t admit it ) but I always tried to encourage him to get on a healthy eating path, but to no avail. I am happy that you are helping to get the word out about how dangerous over eating can be.
I am agree with idea that trying to achieve quick weight loss is very dangerous, and can lead to developing binge eating disorder.And the different kind of weight loss medication is not good so I think that you must be strong eat less and much sport…It must resolve a part of a problem with weight and your health!
I found this article very interesting as i used to binge eat especially if i was feeling abit low. I found that eating little and often really helped me and like its says in your article, drinking plenty of tea not only is it good for you but it fills you up too.
tip1:
There is no need for breakfast and lunch to be so time consuming for anyone. It is easy to be prepared ahead of time so that each meal takes only a few minutes to create. Start by having the proper supplies in the house at all times.
tip2:
Plan what you will eat for breakfast before you go to bed the night before. Set out the dishes even, if you feel you need to save an extra couple of seconds.
tip3:
A bit of planning can avoid binge eating and still get you out the door quickly each morning. That healthy breakfast that you prepared in less than three minutes will keep your body fueled through the morning and then the healthy lunch will stave off mid-afternoon fatigue.
Simple but effective tips, I hope.
Whenever I try an extreme diet like Atkins, I always find myself sticking with it for about three days before I crash and eat everything in sight. I found that sticking to a slower working, but easier to follow like the one weight watchers promotes keeps me from binging because I am allowed a little cheat food from time to time.
I really feel sad for people who binge eat. I have sugar binges at time but not like some of these people that I see. The mental aspect of weight loss is the single biggest obstacle to losing weight. If you have a lot of emotional issues, you will always have a hard time with something in your life. Food is an easy comfort item for most.
People with binge eating disorder are usually very upset by their binge eating and may become depressed and may gain weight. Weight gain can lead to obesity, and obesity raises the risk for these health problems.
Avoiding junk food is really the best key for me.
One common debate regarding binge eating disorder is whether or not weight loss should occur before or after eating disorder treatment in a binge eating disorder residential program.
It is very important to recognize binge eating disorder in its early stages and seek out eating disorder treatment at a binge eating treatment center before these long-term consequences take place.
A person need to eat up to 5 times a day! But keeping kosher and up to 7 pm
Avoiding fastfoods is not dangerous. Sure you get cravings but it’s better to get cravings and even give in to them once in a while then to still eat fastfoods. If you eat fastfoods to not get cravings you’ll eat the a lot more often then if you’d control your cravings most of the time. Plus after a month or two you stop craving them alltogether.
Bingeing is a serious problem. If you need to get help for your bingeing problem, then visit www.shrinkyourself.com/bingeing/home.asp
Get help with your bingeing problem at www.shrinkyourself.com
Will power is the hardest part of any diet. Often BioImmersion into a program can help in setting the stage for sticking to a particular regiment.
As bulimia and anorexia I believe this disease have a complex nature which needs cross treatments (medication, therapy), I do however believe that this disease is less severe, or am I wrong?
People have a really hard time accepting the fact that losing weight takes time. The majority of people are impatient and that’s when they start seeking the so-called miracle pill that will make them lose 20 pounds in 10 days and that is not healthy at all. Yeah its possible and some have done it but what everyone else doesnt understand is that people who lose this amount of weight in that time frame usually gain it back just as fast.
Self control in eating isn`t always easy. I think keeping oneself active can help in the case of binge eaters. Apart from the eating aspect, too few of us take the recommended amount of daily exercise.
Nice information.
I agree, The best way to get on a healthy track is to start eating healthy and limit portions. The mental aspect of weight loss is the single biggest obstacle to losing weight.
I don’t trust with dieting. Workout and exercise really help though.
Binge eating is surely a big problem. It’s not more of the physical burden , but more on the emotional side. It can lead to other psychological disorders such as depression.
I wish I would have thought of it first. The best on the net! Thanks to obesity, we’ve just launched our 5th website!
Thanks for this article. I am all for community awareness and helping people work through binge eating disorder.
Nadine Ann
It’s not really about binge eating but the range of food available. I’m shocked how much junk food there is out there, cut the availability of it - promote healthier eating/snacking and this problem will go away.
I had been sick with this eating disorder for a long time, and the only thing which helped me getting rid of this anxious state was my strong will power and now I advise others in this condition to develop a strong will power to combat this disorder.
With enough persistence, diligence, and determination, obesity can be conquered. Avoiding unhealthy foods and dieting takes discipline - no matter how you look at it. People who struggle with eating disorders need support, and that comes from a willingness to get help and consciously attempting to improve eating behaviors.
sensible advice. Crash dieting is usually the flipside to binge eating. You are right, sometimes this can be extreme and present itself in compulsive behaviour symptomatic of bulimia.
Very nice article on the weight loss
I have learn much more from here
thanks for this nice information
Compulsive over-eaters eat foods for emotional reasons, often eating large quantities of “junk” food. Since compulsive over-eaters often turn to food for comfort when stressed or upset, it is really important do be satisfied with our life and accomplishments.
Binge eating is often caused by boredom. An active mind can help overcome such a problem.
Binge eating is caused by many different things including boredom and depression, and even things as simple as ‘having a bad day’.
Many fad diets that involve depriving yourself of certain foods (and really anything you like) can also lead to binge eating.
its possible and some have done it but what everyone else doesnt understand is that people who lose this amount of weight in that time frame usually gain it back just as fast.
I wish I could respect a diet:(
Great post. Thanks for sharing!
Very nice article on the weight loss
I have learn much more from here
thanks for this nice information
This really hit close to home. I’ve read all the diet books out there, and they all say to avoid certain foods. What they don’t warn you about is the cravings that will come about as a result of avoiding these foods. I’ve never wanted meat more than when I tried a vegetarian diet, and I never was much for bread until I started Atkins… Its a vicious cycle, thanks for bringing attention to it.
Extra weight!!!!!!!!!!
Oh i am suffered.
Putting on extra flab especially in your later life can be one of the factors behind your diabetes and cardiovascular wreck. However, you can hope that it won’t affect your cognitive health!
So be careful.
I agree to the fact that so called reductive diets (aka quick weight loss) can be pretty harmful to the body and cause Yo-Yo-Effects.
Really great article on binge eating, and I can’t deny I’m guilty of it too from time to time. I know first-hand that fad diets (crash diets) don’t work for the long term. Anytime I’d tried to loose weight quick, I’d constantly fall back into old habits, usually binging out of boredom. I guess it really helps to spend more time outside, unless you live somewhere cold like me.
Hi, there. I started bulimia tips website. I think this is a major problem of youth. But, there is a cure. This is mental disorder. It can be treated really
Really fantastic article.Particularly the “popular diet” stuff. Have you seen this other site on exercises . It´s pretty similar to yours. www.lowerabexercise.org Really good site with great content.
I love your article. I emailed it to my mother… I think it will help her deal better with her urges. I also sent here to this website about Fat Burning Secrets
Dont forget to exercise folks, as it is one of the most important steps to do in order to lose weight fast.
I just come here to refresh myself and get lot of information.
Thanks for sharing.
Rapid weight loss is indeed unhealthy and should not be considered unless you are doing so in a controlled environment and being closely monitored by professionals (ie doctors and trainers). There are so many health risks associated with obesity that rapidly losing a lot of weight could actually be more detrimental to your health than the obesity itself.
I think that most people suffer from issues around dieting because they focus on it as a diet. When you structure a situation or a goal around not doing something or limiting yourself I think there is a natural tendency to rebel against the rules that are created. When people limit themselves they reach a point, snap, and end up reversing any benefits that were created. I found myself doing this every time I attempted to diet.
The only way you can manage obesity is throught Proper Diet and lots of exercise. The human body is designed for work so we should always get some form of physical exercise to stay fit.
`
Really great article, thanks for sharing all the weight loss tips. I appreciate it when I come across something that doesn’t have any fluff to it. I wrote on a very similar subject at www.looseweightquicknow.com. Check it out if you have some time.
Obesity and diabetes is a growing problems nowadays. It is caused by todays lifestyle which does not involve lots amount of exercise. Most people are just happy sitting in their office chair and they do not even want to sweat.
Nutrition is very important to losing that fat. You can work out like crazy but you will not see great results unless you know what food you have to eat to get the metabolism going.
its important to eat healthy yes but without working out and getting your heart rate up, nothing will happen, eat right and exercise and happiness will come forth to your life
Once you lose weight for your wedding, put together a great grooms speech.
Losing 30 pounds in a second isn’t the ultimate thing you must aim for. You need to focus on how to limit food intake, unhealthy food and doing exercise everyday. This will lead you to a slow but sure way to losing that fat.
Obesity is a growing health problem these days because people are too lazy to do some extra exercise and they eat too much. i always exercise and do cardio regularly to maintain a healthy weight.
I`ve just been reading that there has been a “dramatic rise” in deaths in England in which obesity was a contributory factor. Figures showed that the figure doubled from the year 2000 to those in 2009 in England and Wales according what was written on death certificates.