The early signs of binge eating aren’t always obvious. This kind of impulsive behaviour can often develop slowly over a long period of time so that you don’t even notice as it gets more serious. Patients that I treat will sometimes say things like this…

“I kind of binge eat impulsively but it’s not a big deal – it’s not like I am obese or completely out of control – it is not even every day. Sometimes, when I drive by McDonalds I just have to drive through, or sometimes, I go through periods when I can’t control myself – but ultimately I am still OK”.

You are right; it might not be completely out of control. You might still be of a healthy weight and not have any health problems yet.

But you can not kid yourself, this is one of the early signs of binge eating…

Let’s examine what your life may look like in 10 years time if you don’t learn to control your eating habits. Perhaps you eat junk food whenever you experience emotional distress. Or you eat healthy food but overeat and consume larger volumes than you need. Maybe you reach for food if you’re bored, stressed, lonely, busy, or tired. Or you eat whenever you see something and simply can’t resist temptations or urges. Imagine then, what your health will look like in 10 years…

Some of the short-term consequences might be feeling disgusted with yourself, ashamed, out of control, pathetic, like a looser, hiding, hating yourself. Some other signs of binge eating could be feeling nauseous after overeating, bloated and stuffed, unable to do anything else. Mid-term consequences could include;

  • Affected self-esteem and confidence
  • Disliking how you look
  • Having to buy bigger cloth
  • Feeling unattractive or undesirable
  • Obsessing over food
  • Putting on weight
  • Having to adjust your lifestyle
  • Simply not feeling good about yourself

Long-term consequences might include the development of chronic health conditions, such as heart problems, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, or diabetes. Ultimately, your quality of life may be compromised.

AND you know why you don’t think that it is a problem? Because of your impulsivity. When people are high in impulsivity, they are more likely to focus on short immediate gains and not long-term benefits. Their brains think ‘muffin today – diet next month’ or ‘party today – study for exams next week’. Your impulsivity might prevent you from seeing things as they are and planning for the future.

Impulsivity is all about ‘I want it and I want it now, I don’t care about tomorrow’.

You might choose not to engage in a program, but you can’t say: “I didn’t think it was a big deal – I thought I could manage it”. You are smarter and more capable than that – you deserve to live a great life where you are always in control, don’t compromise yourself – learn today how to manage your impulsive overeating. Recognise the early signs of binge eating and be proactive by trying our Beat the Binge Online Program. It’ll teach you how to manage your craving and temptations so you can stop impulsively overeating before it becomes an even bigger problem.

Flickr Image by Brian King