Knowing the Difference Between a Big Appetite and Binge Eating in Teens

Jackson has been feeling lost since he recently realized his teenage son Jack Junior’s famous appetite may have evolved into a binge eating disorder. As a single dad, born and raised on a ranch in Texas, surrounded mostly by cowboys who don’t talk much about emotion, Jackson is not quite sure how to even broach this topic with his son.

All sorts of questions keep floating around in his head.

• “How did I not notice that my kid might have an eating disorder sooner?”.
• “How can I know for sure if my son is binge eating?”.
• “How and why did this develop into a disorder?”.
• “How much of a problem is this condition?”.

With this article, we hope to answer most of Jackson’s questions and help any other parent who might find themselves in the same boat with their child.

How did I not notice that my child might have an eating disorder sooner?

The boy, Jack Jr., has always had a huge appetite and loves his steaks, drumsticks, potatoes, and gravy. You see, his mother, who recently passed away of cancer, was the ranch’s resident cook, so he has grown up surrounded by her rich cooking, literally eating it all up.

What Jackson doesn’t know is that in recent months, Junior has endured relentless teasing at school for the way he looks with hurtful body-shaming nicknames that are thrown at him every day.

Slowly he’s been finding ways to cope with the pain by seeking solace in food. It’s become his routine that when life throws too much at him, he just retreats to his room, locks the door, and starts binge eating whatever snacks he could find in the pantry or leftovers stashed in the fridge.

Jack Junior can eat several bags of chips, cookies, a full chicken, fries, and some burgers all in one go. He will eat until he physically can’t anymore and to the point of pain. Most often, a teen will engage in binge behavior alone, hiding from friends and family, and feel a great sense of shame for their actions immediately following the behavior.

The sufferers almost always know that what they are experiencing is not normal, which is why they are careful to hide it. The majority of teens who struggle with binge eating disorder never get treatment until it has gotten to extremes because many times no one ever notices what’s going on. On the surface, a person who binge eats is probably just passed off as someone who ‘likes to eat’ but yet, the truth is farthest from this.

The Differences Between a Big Appetite and Binge Eating

Binge eating disorder is a serious but treatable eating disorder that normally affects teens between the ages of twelve and seventeen. The individual repeatedly eats enormous amounts of food uncontrollably all at once. A binge eater will have these food binge episodes whether they are hungry or full and often eat until they are physically sick.

Overeating:

• Means eating more than usual but not compulsively.
• Is an occasional experience, and often situational, like on special occasions.
• Leaves one feeling full or satisfied afterward.
• The person eating is in full control of when they want to stop.

Binge Eating Disorder (BED):

• Is the result of a serious mental disorder rather than the love of food.
• Involves loss of control or blacking out during binge eating episodes.
• Occurs with increasing frequency and severity.
• Causes compulsive overeating, even when not hungry.
• Causes serious emotional distress and guilt afterward.

How can I know for sure if my son is binge eating?

Jack Jr. has always been a relatively chubby child who is shy and keeps to himself, but recently Jackson has noticed that his son’s weight is fluctuating in an alarming manner. All Jackson knows is that he has suddenly started to wonder what is really wrong and how he can know for sure.

Detecting binge eating disorder (BED) in teenagers involves recognizing both behavioral and physical signs that include:

• Skipping meals, snacks, or food groups they used to enjoy.
• Suddenly seeming to have strict rules around eating.
• Excessive worry about calories and obsessive meal planning.
• Secretive eating or avoiding eating with others.
• Hoarding or hiding food.
• Strange food rituals, like wanting foods strictly separated.
• Always tired and weak.
• Noticeable fluctuations in weight.
• Complaints of stomach pain or other gastrointestinal problems.
• Lack of concentration and seeming distracted all the time.
• Disruption in menstrual cycles.
• Feeling cold frequently, even in warm environments.
• Dizziness or fainting.
• Becoming anxious, guilty, or sick after eating.

Jackson doesn’t even know when exactly Jack Jr.’s eating started getting out of control. With his wife’s recent health battle, he wonders if in the end maybe no one was paying attention to the young man.

Many of the symptoms of binge eating disorder will be obvious only to the person who has the disorder. As a parent or friend, you may not be able to see these symptoms easily unless you know common signs to look out for.

Unlike teens who suffer from other eating disorders, teens with binge eating disorder are unlikely to be diagnosed with obesity. It is also important to note that a teen does need to have all or even most of these signs present in order to suffer from binge eating disorder.

How and why did this develop into a binge eating disorder?

The key factors that trigger emotional overeating can range from stress, trauma, loss, and fatigue to boredom or sadness. Recognizing what lies beneath the teens’ layers of emotional eating involves understanding how emotions tie into daily consumption choices. Seeking comfort through food rather than coping with underlying issues may provide temporary solace but often adds more weighty concerns down the line.

There are a number of environmental and emotional reasons why teenagers develop binge eating disorders. It could be stress at school, relationship problems, or conflicts at home. Mental health issues can contribute, like depression or anxiety. Some just have a genetic predisposition for the condition.

Another big trigger factor, much like with Jack Junior, is grief over the loss of a close person, like his mother. In Jackson and Jack junior’s case, the road ahead is still long but certainly not hopeless. The first step Jackson has taken is seeking professional help to confirm the diagnosis of binge eating disorder, but that is only the first step.

Already, there have been so many setbacks, tears, and moments when Junior felt overwhelmed. However, Jackson is determined to persevere and support his son by attending therapy sessions and connecting him with others who understand.

He hopes that with more help, Junior will emerge from the darkness and realize that his struggle has given him strength. He wants his son to see himself the way that he sees him, by embracing his vulnerability and using it to connect with others. Sharing his story raises awareness about binge eating disorder and healing.

Jackson’s story is quite common, although many parents may never realize what their teens are going through. If you have read their story and sense that you recognize some similarities with someone you love, be it a child, friend, or neighbor, then you may need to talk to someone about it.

Before you approach a person suggesting they struggle with binge eating disorder, first speak to a professional. They can help point you in the right direction in terms of how to approach the person without spooking them into further silence and isolation. If you have seen any evidence that this eating disorder may be present in them, you need to find a way to get them to agree to professional help through encouragement and love.

At Texas Christian Counseling, we are here for you. Contact us today and we will connect you to a Christian therapist in Texas specializes in eating disorders. You and your loved one do not have to walk this journey alone.