Hyperphagia: how to treat this eating disorder?
Hyperphagia is an eating disorder that involves consuming excessive food without feeling the need for energy. It is an evil that affects 3.5% of women and 2% of men worldwide. Summary of this condition, its causes, symptoms and the solutions that exist to treat it.
What is binge eating?
Binge eating disorder is an eating behavior resulting from a psychic dysfunction and characterized byoverconsumption of food. The obsession with absorbing a significant amount of food in a short period of time causes abdominal distention. Unlike bulimia which causes a need to vomit what has been swallowed, the patient suffering from this discomfort does not feel this urge. The direct consequence of this problem is adrastic weight gainor even a tendency to obesity. Hyperphagous people can have seizures at any time. When it occurs during meals, the crisis is said to be prandial, while after meals, it is a post-prandial evil. Screening for this disorder should be done according to DSM-IV criteria. This disease affects 35% of men and 65% of overweight women.
Causes of binge eating
The causes of this disease are not yet well known, however, it seems that they are primarily the result of psychologicaldysregulationandtoo important weight loss diets. Factors such asstress,low self-esteemwould be at the origin of this suffering in some people. Takingcertain neurolepticsin individuals suffering from psychosis can also cause this eating disorder, which is hyperphagia. In reality, people with this disorder usually havedepressive or anxious states. As for too frequent slimming diets, they would sometimes lead to a lack of control in the most vulnerable. Based on this fact, nutrient intake would trigger compulsive eating behaviors.
How to recognize food obsession?
Eating constantly without almost ever feeling satietyis something abnormal that should alert you. This trauma is a problematic disease with serious consequences (sleep apnea, type II diabetes, obesity, etc.). All these elements help to make the diagnosis. If in addition to the symptoms, the individual has seizures more than twice a week, a doctor should be consulted. Here are 3 important signals that can help detect deviant eating behavior:
• When the quantity of food swallowed greatly and regularly exceeds the normal dose.
• When you have uncontrollable urges without being hungry.
• If the patient has a feeling of guilt or frustration just after eating without however adopting compensatory behaviors (vomiting or playing sports).
Link between overeating and obesity
Scientists have often established a correlation between this eating disorder and obesity. Indeed, the finding shows that people who suffer from this problem have a strong tendency toobesitytag. Note that the desire for permanent overconsumption causesabnormal weight gaintag. Since appetite is not motivated by a metabolic need, the individual grows excessively without being able to slow down. The increase in weight mass generally results in obesity since there is no compensatory attitude as in bulimics. Anyone can be confronted with this disorder, however, the prevalence is higher in psychologically or emotionally sensitive people.
Solutions to end this food problem
This eating disorder requires multidisciplinary supervision and appropriate care. EffectiveTreatmentsexist to treat hyperphagia, but the awareness must come from the patient himself. The unfortunate patient who can no longer do violence to himself can approach adoctorfor a therapeutic follow-up. A general practitioner or a dietician can make the diagnosis and suggest a specific food program. Then, the baton can be passed to apsychotherapistfor psychological support. The specialist can then prescribe to the patient a therapy, NLP (neuro-linguistic program) or even hypnosis sessions.
The purpose of these treatments is to modify the existing irrational behavior in favor of healthy and controlled habits. Drug management could be combined if necessary. To treat hyperphagia, the most important thing is the awareness of the patient and the acceptance of medical follow-up.
Stephen Paul is the lead author and founder of My Health Sponsor. Holder of a diploma in health and well-being coaching with more than 200 articles in the field of health, he makes it a point of honor to offer advice based on reliable information, based on scientific research, and verified by health professionals.