We all overeat sometimes, but overeating and binge eating are two different types of behaviour.

Overeaters consciously choose to consume excess Calories typically because they like the taste of food, have a craving or perhaps are in a setting where there is tempting food around and/or environmental pressure to eat it.

Binge eaters, on the other hand, consume an excess amount of Calories (anywhere from hundreds to thousands) in a short period of time and feel a complete lack of control over it. They typically do so very quickly, in the absence of hunger and until they are uncomfortably full. There is also a high amount of personal guilt typically associated with it, and sometimes a binge eater will compensate by purging or performing excess exercise to compensate, which is characteristic of bulimia nervosa. If a chronic binge eater does not compensate, their behaviour is more characteristic of binge eating disorder, the most common eating disorder in North America.

Binge eating is not really about food, it is typically a symptom of an underlying cause. For example, people may binge eat because they are depressed, lonely, obsessing about their weight or having body image issues (I believe all of these contributed to my binge eating!). Some say it feels like they are feeding their emotions, rather than their stomachs. This stands to reason since food can activate pleasure centers in the brain similar to those that are activated with drug consumption, another coping mechanism.

If you are suffering from binge eating episodes, the first step to recovery is identifying it. A logical next step is to recognize when you are experiencing an episode, so you can identify what other emotions you are feeling at the time, and the root causes that are actually provoking the behaviour. You may then have to go back and deal with the underlying emotional pain that is perhaps driving your use of food as a coping mechanism. A professional (psychologist, psychiatrist) may also help you understand these emotions and how to express them in a more positive manner.

If you are a binge eater, know that you are not alone and know that you aren’t crazy. Although it can be a major barrier to a healthy weight, it can most definitely be overcome. Behaviour doesn’t change overnight, however, so just take it one step at a time. And do it for yourself: because you and your health matter.