Biological causes of binge eating disorder
While eating disorders like BED were once thought to be primarily caused by sociocultural factors, scientists are increasingly finding biological influences that can contribute to the development of BED and other eating disorders.
Sensitivity to stress
How sensitive people are to stress may be a cause of binge eating.
Many people with BED have been found to have an increased level of stress at the onset of
binging episodes, and people found to be more sensitive to or affected by stress also tend to be more susceptible to developing binge eating disorder.
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That may be connected to the impact food has on the body and brain. Eating food triggers the parasympathetic nervous system—the "rest and digest" answer to the sympathetic nervous system's "fight or flight" response.
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The switch is almost like shifting into a lower gear and can have a soothing or sleepy effect on people, which may be used as a subconscious defense against stress.
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Palatable foods
One of the main
symptoms of binge eating disorder is the sense of losing control over how much is eaten during a binging episode. But there may be a biological connection to this behavior.
Eating anything will activate certain receptors in the brain's reward center, sending “feel-good” chemicals, like dopamine and naturally occurring (endogenous) opioid peptides, through the body. These receptors are especially active when responding to “palatable foods"—or those high in salt and certain sugars and fats.
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Usually, these rewarding chemicals have a counterpoint: a compound called acetylcholine, which helps stimulate the sense of satiation. But during episodes of binge eating, the body can become so overwhelmed by the rush of dopamine and opioids that the compound simply can’t compete.
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Binge eating may be triggered by this type of chemical reaction, allowing the person to continue eating without feeling physically full for longer-than-normal periods of time.
Changes in the brain
Interestingly, some research has suggested that one of the causes of binge eating disorder may actually be repeatedly binge eating.
Continuous episodes of binge eating behavior have been shown to change the structure of the brain and the way its reward system operates.
2 Specifically, taking in a lot of high-sucrose (or sugary) foods was found to change specific genes involved with dopamine reception.
2 And high-fat foods were connected to changes in the way the body releases and receives opioids.
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Some findings have also hinted that people with BED already have differences in their reward center pathways that make them more sensitive to dopamine—which can make them more vulnerable to
disordered eating patterns, such as binge eating episodes—though more research is still needed.
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Environmental causes of binge eating disorder
While biology may make someone more susceptible to binge eating behavior, there are many environmental reasons for binge eating disorder.
The neurological response to certain foods can make binge eating episodes feel out of control, but binge eating is usually triggered in the first place by outside factors a person experiences in their everyday life.
Emotional eating
Not all people who engage in emotional eating—or
eating as a coping mechanism for difficult emotions—struggle with BED. But the concept could be another of the binge eating disorder causes.
Studies have found that the same “palatable” foods that commonly trigger binging episodes can also effectively alleviate the psychological and physiological effects of stress.
3 The two outcomes stem from the same mechanism of lighting up “feel good” neurochemical pathways.
This could explain why many people with BED binge eat even when they don't feel physically hungry. In these cases, what they may be craving isn’t the nutrients or even the sugar and fat content of the food but the neurological response it triggers.
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Frequent dieting
What causes binge eating disorder in many people is the
societal pressure to be thin and the stress and disordered eating behaviors that often come along with it.
Studies have long tied frequent dieting to a higher
risk of developing eating disorders, and the behavior seems to be particularly connected to developing binge eating disorder.
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Most immediately, this is likely tied to the restrictions most diets put on certain foods or entire food groups. Someone may go through the day not eating when hungry, then suddenly snap at the end of the day.
Severe
food restriction has also been found in some studies to bring on cravings for the exact kind of high-sugar, high-fat “palatable” foods that often trigger binge eating cycles.
3 Extreme food restriction can also lead to irritability and other negative thoughts and emotions, which have been found in other studies to be a core factor in binge eating episodes.
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Treatment of binge eating disorder
What causes binge eating disorder in an individual is a huge part of determining the type of treatment they should receive. However, different therapies can help address the core issues of BED.
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is often considered the leading psychological treatment for BED, as it has been both widely tested and found effective across many studies.5 The modality revolves around the idea that unhelpful behaviors come from unhelpful thoughts and works to help patients first recognize, then redirect, these disordered thinking patterns.5
Interpersonal psychotherapy
Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) has also been found effective at reducing binge eating behaviors.5 This type of treatment focuses on helping patients better establish and assert their needs and boundaries in social situations and is thought to help alleviate the self-esteem issues that are often connected to BED.5
Dialectical behavioral therapy
Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) also shows promise for helping with binge eating disorder. The treatment helps patients understand that they can simultaneously change some behaviors while loving and caring for themselves, though more research is needed to prove the effectiveness of this therapy with BED patients.5
Finding help for binge eating disorder
Binge eating disorder is a pervasive and complex issue. But binge eating recovery is possible. If you or someone you know is struggling with binge eating disorder, it's important to seek out help.
Help is within reach
Within Health is here to support you through eating disorder treatment and recovery. We offer virtual care programs for anyone with an eating disorder and tailor treatment to your specific needs. Contact our team today to learn more about healing options.
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