Written by Jenn Hand, Holistic Nutritionist, Board Certified Health Coach, NBC-HWC, Binge Eating Coach
What Is a Binge Eating Episode?
What is a binge eating episode?
A binge eating episode typically consists of eating while feeling out of control, eating large amounts of food due to other reasons besides hunger, eating quickly, and feeling uncomfortably full.
People define binges differently– some women I’ve worked with feel out of control eating 5-6 cookies, whereas others define a binge as eating the entire sleeve or box of cookies. It’s all about how it feels to the person: if it feels out of control, it usually is a binge.
What is one common characteristic of a binge eating episode?
There can be many characteristics of a binge episode. Typical ones include: eating very fast, feeling out of control, feeling unable to stop, eating in secret, and/or eating until you’re uncomfortably full.
What does a binge look like?
A binge can look different to different people. In the beginning of my journey, my binges were thousands of calories of food in one sitting, following periods of restrictive diets. Over time, as I began to heal, my binges consisted of fewer calories each time I ate. They still felt out of control, but the quantity of how much I ate declined. For some people, it’s eating a ton of food, for others, it’s not being able to stop eating more than 1-2 cookies.
Who is most likely to binge eat?
Although women are more likely to be affected by bingeing than men, it’s become more of a problem for a wider variety of ages and gender in the last 5-10 years.
How do you know if you have a binge eating problem?
If you find your life being significantly impacted by eating, you may want to seek support. At the height of my bingeing and dieting, I would refuse social invites, hide from seeing friends, be embarrassed of being intimate and isolate myself. If you struggle to work and “do” life because of bingeing, it may be worth exploring support to heal.
What should you do if you’re worried someone you love is binge eating?
Approaching someone you love can be a very tender and vulnerable experience. I had a lot of shame around my eating and thought I was keeping it secret from everyone I knew. It turns out, people noticed and I wasn’t hiding it as well as I thought. If you’re worried about someone you love, offer support, express how you feel, and share your concern about what you’re observing. Be kind and loving, without judgment. Approaching it from a place of love is the best way to go.
Read More:
🌷What To Do After Binge Eating Sugar
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Schedule a 20-min CallAbout the Author:
Jenn Hand has been helping women like you become normal eaters since 2015.
She’s worked with thousands of women, helping them to balance their bodies, end bingeing, stop obsessing over food, and start feeling amazing again. As a board-certified health coach and holistic nutritionist, Jenn knows how to support you in making real positive changes that last.
Her articles have been published on Mind Body Green, Tiny Buddha, Thrive Global and other local and global media platforms. She’s the author of How to Be a Normal Eater and the creator of The Normal Eater’s Club program. Listen to Jenn’s advice and tips on the Cake Doesn’t Count Podcast, or read more of her articles for free on the Food Freedom Blog.
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