Binge eating is a common type of eating disorder that involves cycles of consuming more calories than the body needs. Often, after a person has binged, they’ll restrict their diet as a form of punishment.

Many people assume binge eating is consuming large amounts of unhealthy food at once, and although this does fit into the definition, it’s not necessarily the type of food that makes up the problem, but the amount, so even eating excess healthy foods can still be classed as binge eating.

Binge eating can occur for many reasons, and often many people aren’t necessarily aware that this applies to them. Typically, many binge eaters eat a healthy, controlled diet during the week, combined with weekday exercising, rewarding themselves at the weekend with a more relaxed approach to eating. It’s often at the weekends when binge eating is at its highest, where people overeat or drink, perhaps when socialising with family or friends, or tucking into an array of snacks in front of the television. The good work from the week is often quickly undone at the weekend, and can easily lead to excess weight gain.

Many people also binge eat simply because they don’t know the calorie content of food, or their estimations are unrealistic, causing them to eat more than they should at once.

Most often, people resort to binge eating because they’re too restrictive about what they can and can’t eat, which leads to cravings that eventually become impossible to control.

The good news is that there are lots of strategies that can help you to overcome binge eating, and to allow you to gain a more balanced approach to what you eat or drink.

A good place to start is to gain an understanding of what binge eating is, and to recognise when this is happening to you. If, like many people, you binge eat at the weekend, and compensate for this during the week, try to adopt a healthier and more balanced approach across the entire week.

Strict calorie counting and restrictive diets can make eating dull, and may promote the binge eating cycle, so try to take a flexible approach to what you eat whilst still being mindful of making healthy options when you go shopping. Buy what you need for the week ahead, instead of stocking your cupboards up, which may give rise to temptation. Avoid eating in front of the television, and if you go out for meals, make healthy choices and don’t go for seconds.

If you binge eat out of boredom, fill your time with hobbies or other activities. Don’t punish yourself down the gym if you fail, and remember that getting out of the cycle of binge eating can take some time, so don’t be hard on yourself.

Binge eating is classed as a mental health issue, so seek support if you’re struggling to tackle the problem. There are trained professionals who can help to give you guidance and support, so consult your GP or an organisation such as BEAT.

Feeling good about your body and what it can achieve when doing exercise can also help you gain a positive mental attitude that can assist with preventing binge eating. You might also wish to enhance your performance or physique by browsing the range of high quality injectable or oral steroid products from Strength & Steroids.

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