Binge Eating - The Root of Obesity?

Binge Eating - The Root of Obesity?
By Joseph Devine

I’m sure that we’ve all experienced it on some level. We get into an argument with a loved one, or we notice that we are particularly more stressed then usually. At some point along this somewhat linear thought process, we crave something. Suddenly a quick trip to the doughnut shop or McDonald’s seems like a good idea. We order the biggest thing on the menu because we are suddenly extremely hungry. By the end of the meal, some of us might have to unbutton our shirts just to be able to sit comfortably.

This phenomenon is known as binge eating. Lots of research has been conducted on this particular aspect of the human experience and very interesting things have come to the surface. There is now speculation that binge eating is actually an evolutionary defense mechanism passed down from the days before mass transport, globalism, and drive-through service.

There was once a time when food was actually quite scarce. Our human ancestors weren’t sure if they would have enough to eat for the next day. It was appropriate to binge on whatever food was available in order to fight against famine.

Researchers also found though, that the activity is linked to emotional centers of the brain that are triggered by high calorie foods. Thus, in an attempt at self-preservation, the individual is almost compelled to eat as much as he possibly can. Researchers believe that this fight, between body and mind, takes place as many as eight times a day.

During this state, individual feel immense amounts of pleasure. As pleasure is more and more associated with binging on high-calorie foods, the very act itself perpetuates a habit of eating large amounts of calories at one time. Psychologists have gone so far as to call this activity a conditioned response to stress.

The stress back then was related more to the physical (food, chased by an animal, physical injury, etc.). In modern times, human stress has converted to the psychological and speculative. Thus the net gain in calories is not being effectively used.

Researchers argue that perhaps those individuals experiencing an unusual gain in weight could in fact have the particular gene that triggers excessive binge eating. However, behavior is largely control by the human will rather than genetic composition or emotional sentiment. Overcoming weight issues is mostly about training the mind and body to behave differently during times of stress.

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March 15, 2009 | Filed Under Binge Eating

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