Overeating is a disorder of food intake, the characteristic features of which are the absorption of excess food and the inability to stop at the right time.
Causes of overeating
In modern society, regular or episodic overeating is common to almost everyone. Many people experience the consequences of this disease on themselves, but do not always attach importance to them.
Common causes of excessive absorption of food are:
- Insensitivity of the human stomach to small changes in the amount of food due to the ability to stretch, so the feeling of satiety appears only 15-20 minutes after a meal;
- The loss of selectivity in relation to food, that is, people are guided not by the utility and nutritional value of the product, but by looking at its appearance, aroma, availability, ease and speed of cooking. Besides, the subconscious of a person is influenced by a lot of advertising;
- Masking the need for water (thirst) or in nutrients under the feeling of hunger. This reason for overeating is due to the fact that fast food, which is increasingly used by modern people, is practically devoid of vitamins, useful amino acids, micro- and macro elements;
- Giving food a new meaning that differs from the true (replenishment of energy costs). For example, a business lunch in a restaurant, when it is understood that all guests will eat, regardless of whether they are hungry;
- Psychological overeating. This group includes “jamming” of stress, bad mood or tragic events, understated self-esteem and self-doubt, food as a consolation.
Symptoms of overeating
After understanding the reasons for the excessive consumption of food, it is necessary to find out the signs of this disorder in order to take timely measures and not to bring the situation to obesity.
So, the main symptoms of overeating are as follows:
- Increased body weight or constant weight fluctuations;
- Sleep disturbance. After overeating the body is difficult to fall asleep, because the digestive processes continue;
- Failure in the work of the gastrointestinal tract, a feeling of discomfort (increased gas formation and bloating);
- Absorption of food at any time even in the absence of hunger;
- The use of a larger volume of food while maintaining the old routine of the day and lifestyle;
- Uncontrolled reception of food, for example, when watching TV or reading. Distracting factors not only interfere with the aroma and taste of food, but also make it difficult to determine the moment of saturation;
- Depression resulting from the above symptoms of overeating. Also, nutritionists distinguish such psychological manifestations of gluttony as: striving is in solitude, an inner sense of guilt and dislike for oneself.
Also, nutritionists distinguish such psychological manifestations of gluttony as: striving is in solitude, an inner sense of guilt and dislike for oneself.
Consequences of overeating
The danger of overeating is so serious that doctors insist: getting up from the table follows with a slight sense of hunger. Otherwise, metabolic disorders will not keep you waiting, which will affect the work of all internal organs.
The first consequences of overeating hit the heart. The weight of a person grows, and with it all organs increase, so the heart has to saturate more space with blood. Cardiac contractions are amplified, and the muscular walls of the human “motor” thicken. As a consequence, hypertension and pressure problems occur.
The second organ that suffers after overeating is the liver. When it exceeds the amount of essential fats, it becomes their immediate source. Almost all cells in the body are filled with fat. This seriously affects not only the liver and heart, but also the intestines – the whole intestinal tract suffers. Cases of diseases such as cholecystitis, gastritis, colitis and chronic pancreatitis are becoming more frequent.
Another consequence of overeating is a violation of the hormonal cycle due to a deficiency of thyroxine. Women have problems with menstruation, and this threatens infertility. Men have an erection disorder.
It is also worth noting that overweight is an additional burden on the spine and joints, which wear out prematurely.
How to avoid overeating
You can cope with overeating yourself, but you need to constantly monitor food intake. The basic rules that should be adhered to:
- Eat on time, concentrate on food and not be distracted;
- Stop all snacks, gorging on the main meals;
- There is always sitting, as it helps to stick to the regime and not be distracted during the meal;
- Do not turn food into a reward or stimulant, for this you can find other ways;
- Try not to eat in the first 15 minutes after coming home, as fatigue and hunger are one of the reasons for overeating.
Treatment of overeating
It is rather difficult to identify food disorders, since shame, denial and secrecy are the true companions of these diseases, so the disease may remain undetected for a long time. The disorder is recognized only when a person seeks help in losing weight or wants to get rid of health problems caused by obesity.
Studies that diagnose overeating do not exist. If you suspect a disorder, the doctor looks at the patient’s history, appoints a series of examinations and tests to exclude physical pathologies. If as a result of these manipulations no physical disease is detected, the specialist directs the person to a psychologist who can diagnose and treat the symptoms of overeating.
If you can not cope with the disease yourself, you can contact a doctor who will prescribe medications that reduce your appetite.
The problem of overeating in children
The perpetrators of eating disorders in children are almost always parents who at all costs tend to feed the child even when he absolutely does not want to eat. After overeating, the baby’s stomach stretches and holds much more than the amount of food needed by the child’s body.
In addition, adults come up with various distracting maneuvers, for example, feeding a child during a game or watching cartoons, which should not be done categorically. With this approach, the process of food consumption becomes uncontrollable and automatic, the baby develops a bad habit of eating after a book or a TV, and all this leads to obesity.
Negative effects of overeating are obvious, but it is worth noting that not only regular consumption of large amounts of food, but also occasional festive delicacies can lead to them. You should not go to a party to try all the dishes on the table, but to talk with friends or relatives. It must be remembered that even a single excess of the allowable amount of food is fraught with serious health problems.