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Counting Calories and Portion Sizes with Binge Eating Disorder
Contributor: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC Special Projects Coordinator at Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope
For someone who struggles with a chaotic relationship with food, counting calories and portion sizing can seem like a helpful step, but is this helpful or harmful to someone who may be dealing with binge eating disorder? Binge eating disorder is a psychiatric illness that is characterized by abnormal behaviors with food, including eating large amounts of food beyond the point of fullness, eating in secret, feeling out of control when eating, feeling angry, guilty, and shameful after binging, and more.
Building a Healthier Relationship with Food
The process of recovering from binge eating disorder is one that takes time and should incorporate many different professional approaches, including medical nutrition therapy, behavioral therapies, pharmacotherapy and others. One aspect of healing from binge eating disorder is learning to reestablish a normal relationship with food and ultimately, make peace with food and body. Many individuals attempting to recover from binge eating disorder are often searching for a quick fix or easy means of overcoming this disorder, and who doesn’t want to get better fast?
The reality is that this complex disorder has nothing to do with the food as much as it does the underlying reasons and emotions that may be associated with abnormal food behaviors. For these reasons, trying to control food intake by calorie counting or portion sizing is not addressing the root of the issue, and in fact, can worsen symptoms of binge eating. Binge eating is not a lack of control problem as much as it an emotional issues that may be fueling lack of control around food.
If you have been struggling with binge eating disorder, know that there is professional help and treatment available to help you adequately address your concerns. Working with a registered dietitian can be an invaluable part of your recovery process, as this professional can guide you in terms of how to practice normalized eating and legalizing all foods. Know that you do not need to attempt to navigate through this journey alone and that there is hope for recovery!
Community Discussion – Share your thoughts here!
How do you think counting calories or portion sizing could be helpful or detrimental to the individual who is recovering from Binge Eating Disorder? What encouragement might you offer to this person as they learn to make peace with food and their body?
The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer a discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals. We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.
Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on October 9, 2015. Published on EatingDisorderHope.com
The EatingDisorderHope.com editorial team comprises experienced writers, editors, and medical reviewers specializing in eating disorders, treatment, and mental and behavioral health.
