There are times where we all eat foods in higher quantities than we require for many reasons such as holidays, or we really enjoy a particular food. These are not binge eating behaviours and they do not mean that someone is living with binge-eating disorder! Binge eating behaviours are characterized by a very distinct feeling of a loss of control.
If you suspect your child is exhibiting any binge eating behaviours, you can ask them the following questions:
- How do you feel when you have these episodes of overeating?
- Why is it that you’re eating in secret?
- Why are you taking large quantities back to your room then hiding the wrappers?
As always, you should ask these questions to your child in a kind and respectful way. At Change Creates Change, we call this asking from a place of curiosity, not judgement. If you’re finding it challenging to have this conversation with your child, you are not alone. You can ask a trained professional for guidance on how to have these conversations.
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Binge Eating Disorder
The DSM-5, which is the diagnostic and statistical manual used for mental disorders, recognizes binge-eating disorder in the Feeding and Eating Disorders section. As we mentioned above, binge eating behaviours are when folks consume a larger amount of food than others would eat within a certain time and similar circumstance. Most notably, folks living with binge-eating disorder also feel a loss of control over eating during a binge episode. To be diagnosed with binge-eating disorder, the DSM-5 states that folks have to have a binge eating episode once a week for three months.
Incidence of Binge-Eating Disorder
Binge-eating disorder is usually seen in individuals in their late teens, and it is the most common eating disorder. Approximately 1-2% of the entire population meets the diagnostic criteria. Around 40% of folks who are living with binge-eating disorder are male and it is the highest occurring eating disorder among males.
The Difference Between Binge-Eating Disorder and Bulimia Nervosa
You may also be wondering what the difference is between bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder. When folks are living with bulimia nervosa, they binge on large quantities of food and then purge the food they just consumed. To purge food, folks may self-induce vomiting, use laxatives, or even fast. If your child is living with binge-eating disorder, they will not purge the foods they binge on.
Top 5 Things to Do If Your Child Exhibits Binge Eating Behaviours
1. Seek Help
You’re already seeking help by checking out this blog post and educating yourself more on binge-eating disorder. Great! Other ways you can connect with other eating disorder resources include connecting with an eating disorder team, reading other blogs or watching YouTube videos.
2. Be a Positive Role Model for Your Child
This means setting up a positive environment for your child. Food, weight, and shape should not be demonized in your home. We also do not want your child exposed to negative self-talk ever, especially when your child is exhibiting binge-eating tendencies.
3. Consider Food as Just Food
Make sure to talk about food as just being food. Food should have no moral values or labels. It should not be talked about as “healthy” or “unhealthy”, “good” or “bad”, or “junk food” and “clean food”.
4. Encourage Regular Eating in the Household
Model regular eating behaviours for your child. Regular eating means eating breakfast every day about an hour after waking. It also means eating three meals a day and two to four snacks a day. Regular eating should be a culture within your household.
5. Keep Binge Foods in the Home
Keep foods that your child binges on in the house. We do not want these foods to be completely removed from the house because this fuels the sense of scarcity. The sense of scarcity actually encourages binge eating behaviours in your child. Instead, we recommend that you work on gradual exposure with a trained professional. This will help you to reintroduce the foods into your child’s diet.
Binge-Eating Disorder Treatment
Change Creates Change is here for you and your child. Our team of registered dietitians and therapists can help your child to navigate the recovery process. Click below to book a free, 15-minute consultation call with us.
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