BINGE EATING & YOUR OVARIES

ARE MY OVARIES

MAKING ME EAT?

BY DR HANNAH KENNEDY, POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW| TAUIRA MATUA KAIRANGI WHATUTOTO EDGI TEAM, UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO, CHRISTCHURCH

Binge eating disorder (BED) is the most common eating disorder of which you have never heard.

Studies estimate that 2-3.5 percent of the population su er from this disorder, compared to approximately one percent for anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. BED is characterised by an excessive intake of food, without regular purging or other compensatory behaviours (such as vomiting, laxative use, or excessive exercise). Food cravings and binge-eating behaviours are often described by women su ering from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and evidence is growing that there is, indeed, some association between PCOS and BED.

So, what is PCOS? Polycystic ovary syndrome is a condition that a ects up to 15 percent of reproductive age people with ovaries. The syndrome involves having high levels of male sex hormones (such as testosterone) circulating in the body, which can lead to undesired features such as acne and excessive body hair. Additionally, as the name would suggest, characteristic cysts may be observed on the ovaries.

People with PCOS are at increased risk for reproductive problems and infertility, as well as metabolic features such as obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. To add to that burden, those with PCOS are at greater risk of depression and anxiety.

Binge eating can be associated with several contributing factors, including anxiety, depression, and poor body image, all of which are implicated in PCOS. In a large study of PCOS su erers, more than a third of healthy weight or overweight participants, and the majority of participants with obesity report binge eating behaviours. Given that people with PCOS are seemingly primed to su er from anxiety or depression, binge-eating behaviours, and metabolic factors that can lead to weight gain, it is cruelly ironic that the frontline treatment for PCOS is weight management.

Unsurprisingly, many people with PCOS fi nd this di cult to achieve, reasons including tiredness, embarrassment about appearance, and feeling that their e orts are fruitless.

Controlling weight in PCOS may be medically indicated to reduce longer-term health concerns like diabetes and heart disease and to address fertility problems, but too often healthcare professionals prescribe weight loss without screening for the presence of binge eating. Any intervention that addresses medically necessary weight management needs to screen for the presence of binge eating and ensure that whatever is prescribed does not further perpetuate or even exacerbate binge eating.

Fortunately, a simple screener does exist (the BEDS-7) that consists of 7 quick questions. A balance may need to be struck between achieving a healthy stable weight, and the mental health and quality of life of people with PCOS and BED.

If you have ever experienced regular binge-eating episodes, we encourage you to visit edgi.nz to learn more about our genetic study of eating disorders. Eating disorders don’t discriminate and can strike individuals from all racial and ethnic backgrounds. We hope to enrol participants from all backgrounds so that we can fully understand both genetic and environmental factors that infl uence eating disorders.

SYMPTOMS OF BINGE EATING DISORDER

• Eating far more food than most people would in a similar time period and in similar circumstances • Feeling out of control of your eating during a binge • Binge eating at least twice a week for three months • Not routinely trying to "undo" binging with extreme actions such as purging, fasting, or over-exercising • At least three of the following: - Eating faster than normal - Eating past feeling full - Eating a lot when not hungry - Eating in secret - Feeling guilty after a binge

GET MOVING THIS SUMMER

We wait all year for warm days in the sun, and fi nally, summer is just around the corner. With these warmer days comes the joy of getting outdoors, moving our bodies, and feeling strong.

As we start to move our bodies more and return to sporting activities that we haven’t done since last summer, niggles and pains can surface. An important rule to remember is: don’t push into the niggle. If there is anything not feeling quite right, get ahead of the game and get it checked out before that niggle becomes something you can’t ignore.

Whether you’re picking up from where you left o at the end of the season or if you’ve tried something new over the cooler months, it’s worth making sure you’re moving in a way that not only maximises your e ort but also doesn’t cause a problem down the track.

Now is the best time, before the season picks up, to be proactive in your fi tness journey and get the most from your exercise regime.

Your Muscle People Physio can assess how you are moving and then make recommendations with the goal of preventing musculoskeletal injuries and maximising your exercise program.

Muscle People also continue to o er its incredibly benefi cial Dynamic Spines programme. Designed to help strengthen the core, this supports the strength, mobility, and healing of the spine.

Neck, upper back, and lower back pain as well as core and postural weaknesses are all addressed within Dynamic Spines physiotherapist-led therapeutic exercises.

With over 20 years experience in Christchurch, Muscle People’s team of physiotherapists are experts at helping clients get from pain to performance.

With their combined knowledge and longevity in the health space, you can be assured you are in great hands when dealing with painful and hard-to-treat injuries.

Whatever your choice of movement this summer, be it tennis, cycling, cricket, swimming, or running after the kids, be sure to get your body ready for an active season in the sun.

Muscle People has clinics in Bishopdale and Wigram Skies, as well as Christchurch City physiotherapy clinic on Hereford Street. Get in touch today, call 0800 027 194, or book an appointment online.

www.musclepeople.co.nz