Five days of successfully following your diet is a triumph. Hence binging over the weekend might be acceptable but when it happens regularly, it can be damaging for your health.
Most people are committed to go on a diet or exercise on the first day of the week but find this drive slowly decreases and sometimes fades on weekends. Thus, people tend to over indulge at the end of the week. Over eating on a regular basis can lead to a binge eating disorder. The best way to prevent it is by talking to a healthcare specialist.
According to GP Dr. Deyo Famuboni, "When we binge eat, our bodies go through both physical and mental changes." Weekly over indulgence could lead to some of these health issues.
BLOATING - Over eating can make one feel bloated and lead to the occurrence of abdominal pain. Medical attention is needed once stomachaches become abrupt, sharp and acute. The swelling of abdomen can also affect a person's breathing, making it difficult. Bingeing on less fibrous food could also impede the digestion process, making it harder to have a bowel movement.
HEARTBURN - According to Mayo Clinic, Heart burn happens when there is an acid reflux that takes place when sphincter muscle at the lower end of a person's esophagus loosen at an unacceptable time. Stomach acid then falls back to the esophagus. The burning feeling would reach the throat and could cause a person to vomit. In the long run, this could lead to bulimia or inflammation.
HORMONAL CHANGES - Changes to some of a person's hormones such as the ovaries ( oestrogen and progesterone), the 'hunger' hormones (ghrelin and leptin) and the 'stress' hormone (cortisol) are connected to over indulging. Insulin, the hormone that assists in processing of sugar from food, is also affected by bingeing. Over indulging, most of the time, happens on food that increases the blood sugar level. The excess sugar will then be turned into fat which can cause altering energy levels, fatigue and exhaustion.
WEIGHT GAIN - Bingeing makes a person to eat less healthy and much lower nutritional value calories which could lead to an increase in weight.
Famuboni suggested, "In order to maintain or lose weight if needed, lifelong consistency and being mindful of our eating and exercise habits is vital - even at the weekend."
UNDERNOURISHMENT- Overeating can lead to dizziness, loss of early skin ageing or osteoporosis which are all cause of insufficient nutrition in the body.
ANXIETY AND LOW MOOD- After bingeing over the weekened, people feel guilty for eating too much, thus creating feelings of sadness or anxiety . Dr. Famuboni stated, "Easier said than done, try not to feel bad after a binge or compensate by over exercising or restricting/ skipping your next meal. "
