Connection Between Binge Eating, Hormonal Health, and Metabolic Health

Everything in the body is connected. Our behaviors influence our biochemistry and hormones, and vice versa. Binge eating is no exception. Overeating or binging causes a cascade of hormonal effects that, over time, may lead to metabolic health issues. And imbalances in hormones could contribute to the cravings that may trigger a binging episode.

Today’s article will explore the complex connection between binging behavior and hormonal and metabolic health. While we typically think of binging as an emotional issue, it can lead to very physical effects. Keep reading as we explore:

• The hormone health and binge eating relationship
• Understanding specific hunger hormones and hormonal weight gain
• The blood sugar- metabolic health connection
• How to overcome binge eating
• How to improve metabolic health
• How Lizzy Swick Nutrition can help you break the binging cycle to find food freedom and optimal health

The Complex Relationship Between Binge Eating and Hormonal Health

Let’s start with some definitions. What is binge eating? For the purposes of this article binge eating is any episode of overeating or compulsive eating that you’d personally define as a binge and a behavior you want to change. While you can overeat any food, binge foods are almost always highly processed, palatable foods that are difficult to stop eating.

Binge eating is a disordered eating pattern that can occur without a formal eating disorder diagnosis. Binge eating disorder is characterized by a loss of control with eating. Bulimia includes recurring cycles of binge eating and purging. Binge eating disorder treatment is outside the scope of this article, but we’ll discuss binging’s effect on hormones and metabolism.

It’s important to understand that there is a reason for binging; it’s your body’s way of providing protection. Often, it’s a coping strategy developed in childhood. But, now, as an adult, it may not serve you anymore as it impacts your weight, hormones, and overall health.

Hormones are chemical signals made by one part of the body that influence another, and there are numerous connections between hormones and eating. The physical act of eating triggers a cascade of hormones that affect digestion, satiety cues, reproduction, metabolism, and more. Next, let’s explore some examples.

How Hormones Influence Binge Eating

Hormone imbalances can influence binge eating, and binge eating can promote hormone imbalances. There are many correlations, and sometimes it’s difficult to know what came first. Here are some examples:

• Leptin – Leptin is a hormone made by adipose (fat) cells that signals satiety to the brain, telling you to stop eating because you’ve had enough. You’d think high levels of leptin would calm binge eating, but many people develop leptin resistance, where the adipose cells continue to signal that they’re full, but the brain doesn’t hear the message.

• Adiponectin – Adiponectin is another hormone secreted by adipose cells that helps regulate carbohydrate and fat metabolism. It’s a metabolically protective hormone, but levels tend to be lower in those with binge eating disorder.

• Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) – GLP-1 is released in the gut and slows stomach emptying. It signals the central nervous system to make you feel full. GLP-1 injections are the newest weight-loss medications on the market for this reason. Disruptions in GLP-1 signaling may be related to bingeing behavior.

• Estrogen – Estrogen is a primary reproductive hormone in women, and levels naturally fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle. However, menstrual cycle irregularities are associated with binging. One reason may be how estrogen levels influence serotonin production.

• Progesterone – Progesterone is a calming hormone because it influences the neurotransmitter GABA. Low progesterone or an imbalance between estrogen and progesterone may increase anxiety, which can be a binging trigger.

• Cortisol – Cortisol is a primary stress hormone and influences the nervous system state, blood sugar balance, sleep, and more. Imbalances or high levels of cortisol may help create the conditions for overeating.

Blood Sugar Imbalances and Binge Eating

Blood sugar balance is an essential concept in binge eating. First, binge foods tend to be high in refined carbohydrates and sugar, which can cause an extreme blood sugar spike. Over time, cycles of binge eating may contribute to weight gain and insulin resistance. I’ll discuss metabolic health in more detail below.

Second, when blood sugar goes up, it must come down. In people who binge, blood sugar may come down very fast. In fact, studies suggest that reactive hypoglycemia (low blood sugar after high blood sugar) is more common in people with food addiction and binge eating disorder. Hypoglycemia can reinforce food behaviors by causing extreme hunger and cravings for binge foods.

Using nutrition and lifestyle strategies to balance blood sugar is an important piece of the binge eating puzzle. Balanced blood sugar may lead to fewer cravings and more balanced hormone health.

Health Risks of Binge Eating: Metabolic Disease and Long-Term Effects

While not everyone who binge eats is overweight, there is a correlation between binge eating, hormones, and weight gain. Even for people who are happy with their current weight, binge eating can still have metabolic effects over time.

Binge eating increases the risk of metabolic syndrome, which is a collection of metabolic symptoms characterized by insulin resistance. Insulin is a hormone that helps move glucose (blood sugar) from the bloodstream after eating into cells, where it’s turned into energy. Insulin resistance occurs when there is plenty of insulin, but cells become resistant to its message (similar to leptin resistance discussed above).

One study suggests that alexithymia, a personality trait that affects emotional processing, along with binge eating, further increases the risk of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome.

Insulin resistance develops slowly and can eventually lead to weight gain, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, and other metabolic disease risks.

Healing from Binge Eating: Supporting Hormonal and Metabolic Balance

Healing from binge eating has significant hormonal and metabolic benefits. You can also support hormonal and metabolic balance to aid in the healing process. A comprehensive approach to binge eating includes nutrition, emotional healing, and lifestyle strategies for hormone and metabolic health, such as exercise, stress management, sleep hygiene, and more.

From a nutrition perspective, we can address the physical triggers for binging, such as hypoglycemia or not meeting your nutrient needs. For example, if you notice binge eating at night, we can work on dietary patterns throughout the day. Meeting your protein and nutrition needs early in the day may help shift compulsive eating at night.

From a nutritional therapy perspective, we can address underlying unmet emotional needs driving the urge to fill a gap with food. As Lisa Schlosberg, a therapist specializing in recovery from emotional eating says: “You can’t solve an emotional problem with a physical solution.” Addressing the root cause behind substituting food for acceptance, progress over perfectionism, self-compassion and ongoing relationship with yourself versus all or nothing binary thinking is perhaps more important to start with than anything else.

Together, a psychosomatic approach to healing binge eating is imperative. Lizzy Swick Nutrition is skilled and passionate about helping you reacquaint yourself with parts of you that have felt out of control, and at a loss.

Breaking the Cycle of Binge Eating for Better Hormonal and Metabolic Health

At Lizzy Swick Nutrition, we’re here to support you in the physical and emotional aspects of binge eating to help you meet your weight and health goals. You’ll receive a personalized program to address your unique triggers, relationship to food, and health challenges.

We’ll help you understand what hormones are at play so you are empowered with education. Oftentimes, understanding what’s going on behind the curtain removes the shame and guilt that reinforce the viscous cycle of binge, shame, restrict, binge, repeat.

In order to reduce your metabolic risk, we have to help you find freedom, peace and confidence that you can heal. No doubt, you have likely felt that you have tried everything before and nothing has worked. We understand that fear and the best part is, we’ll be by your side throughout the journey! You will work with a multidisciplinary healthcare team which includes a registered dietitian, a personal trainer and a therapist specifically trained in healing emotional eating.

We welcome you!

References

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