RSS Feed »Causes of Binge Eating Disorder
Causes of binge eating disorder include a number of interrelated physiological, psychological and social factors, which can increase the chances of somebody developing the disorder.
Some suggested causes of binge eating disorder include:
Physiological / biological causes of binge eating disorder
It is possible that sufferers of binge eating disorder have a genetic predisposition to developing it, as it has been found to run in families.
Researchers are also investigating the role of chemical imbalances in the brain (possibly hereditary) and irregular functioning of metabolic rate as possible causes.
Psychological / emotional causes of binge eating disorder
A history of depression is found in up to half of sufferers with binge eating disorder. The disorder is also sometimes found alongside other psychiatric illnesses such as obsessive-compulsive disorder.
A difficulty dealing with emotional states such as stress, boredom, anger, anxiety, low self-esteem and general unhappiness are thought to trigger the use of food as a coping mechanism.
Social / behavioural causes of binge eating disorder
It is thought that dieting behaviours may sometimes contribute to binge eating disorder, as some people have binge eating episodes after restricting their food intake for a period of time.
Binge eating disorder has also sometimes been found to be associated with a history of substance or alcohol abuse.