Why do I binge eat? If you’ve experienced the compulsive desire to eat large quantities of food, then you’ve probably also asked yourself this question. For some people, it’s a response to negative emotions and for others, it’s related to a specific character trait: impulsivity. In this article, we provide an alternative perspective to the question ‘why do I binge eat?‘ to help you understand what may be at the root cause…
Why Do I Binge Eat & How Can I Control It?
Are you sick and tired of trying hard with your diet and staying strong for a while, until, BAM – temptation strikes? Perhaps it’s the alluring moistness and flavour of a rich chocolate cake. Or a zesty and tingly lemon meringue pie. Maybe it’s simply that old reliable treat, a raspberry muffin at 3:30 pm after another long and boring meeting… As you reach towards that muffin you know that any hope of carrot sticks and home-made dip is lost. They will remain in your fridge and probably be disposed of tomorrow.
Don’t blame the cakes – blame unhelpful impulsivity.
Perhaps this wasn’t the first time that you failed to resist those temptations. If so, you may recognise a familiar pattern in your eating habits. You try hard and do well for a while, but then comes the moment where you start to experience these impulsive feelings. And you just can’t resist temptation…
Why Do I Binge Eat When I’m Not Hungry?
Eating food when we’re not hungry is not uncommon. Many people who have difficulties managing their impulsive behaviour also binge eat. They might use food to redirect their attention away from the distress they experience and towards their favourite comfort food.
According to “Expectancy Theory”, many of our addictive behaviours develop because we expect to feel a certain way after engaging in that particular behaviour. For example, we expect to;
- Forget about our heartache after eating ice cream.
- Feel more relaxed after a couple of drinks.
- Stop thinking negative thoughts and feeling negative emotions once we eat that delicious raspberry muffin, and with every bite, we notice different sensations.
Did you know that a recent study suggested that people who are obese and overweight are more likely to notice high-calorie food?
Why Do I Binge Eat? The Link With Impulsivity
Impulsive eating not only affects your body and your health, it impacts your self-esteem and confidence. People often feel that there is something wrong with them if they keep giving into temptation. They feel that it is too much work and it’s easier not to bother with trying to control themselves at all. That is until they find themselves not fitting into their stretch leggings. Or discover that all their tops no longer cover their bellies. It’s a never-ending cycle of frustration, self-hatred, hopes, tears, and comfort food, that leads to more feelings of failure and shame.
What we know today is that impulsivity is often to blame for unhealthy eating habits. A 2015 study from Amsterdam demonstrated that overweight people who are impulsive noticed high calories food much faster than impulsive people with a healthy weight. Another study followed people for a year and it confirmed that people who have difficulties controlling their behavior and had a preference for snack food gained the most weight.
How Can I Control Impulsive Overeating?
There is another alternative to impulsive overeating. The solution might not be simple but it will help you to maintain a healthy weight for years to come. The answer is learning to control your impulsive behaviour as well as understanding and managing your emotions. This will enable you to free yourself from the burden of constantly worrying about your weight. By learning to understand yourself better and respond to your emotional needs, you won’t need to distract yourself with a slice of chocolate cake.
So, right now, look back at your day and recall your food-related choices: What did you pay attention to when you went to get your lunch? How did you feel? How did it affect your decisions? What about after work? For example, did you buy a chocolate bar on the way home today because you felt tired? Could you have gone to bed earlier to get more rest instead?
People who learn to manage their impulsive eating behaviour benefit in several ways. Not only is their weight under control, but their lives are under control as well. They learn to deal with their emotions in a way that is adaptive. They’re able to understand their vulnerabilities and have more effective self-care. They learn to make decisions that result in positive outcomes. As a result, they are more likely to achieve their goals, obtain promotions at work, and have stronger and more fulfilling relationships.
Answering The Question: Why Do I Binge Eat?
If you noticed that your eating is often emotional and impulsivity-driven, don’t fall into despair – help is available. We can teach you how to address this problem and answer the question – why do I binge eat? We have developed an online program that you can access straight away. It’ll teach you how to manage your thoughts and behaviour so that it leads to positive outcomes. We want you to succeed in your life and it starts with learning to control your conduct.
Remember, you have a choice so choose the better option for yourself. Choose ultimate freedom by learning to control your behaviours. Learn more about our online program and take control of your future now – see online courses.
Written By Dr Richard, PsyD Clinical and Health Psychology, Principal Psychologist at Blue Horizon Counselling – Psychology and Psychotherapy practice based in Sydney.
Flickr Image by Saxbald Street Photography
