The Connection Between Pregnancy And Binge Eating: And How Counseling Helps

Pregnancy is a beautiful moment in a woman's life, but it can also be emotionally difficult for many. In fact, many women suffer from weight gain caused by binge eating during and especially after pregnancy. Thankfully, counseling can help manage this dangerous disease.

Binge Eating Is A Danger For Many Pregnant Women

Just about every pregnant woman will gain 20-30 pounds to help their developing child grow in the womb. However, binge eating disorders are unfortunately common in a broad variety of women during and after pregnancy. One study found that about one percent of all pregnant women will suffer from some form of binge eating disorder.

Binge eating disorders are caused by many different influences. It is particularly common during and after pregnancy because of severe depression. Food and binge eating may be used as a way of managing these depression symptoms.

How Depression May Cause Binge Eating

About 15 percent of all women who give birth suffer from severe postpartum depression. This depression is caused by a variety of influences, including the natural weight gain a mother experiences during this process. In some cases, this extra weight gain may depress a woman so much that she continues to binge eat in frustration. .

Even worse, they may develop a yo-yo diet system that includes other eating disorders, such as bulimia or anorexia. Combining more than one eating disorder will cause a woman to suffer from severe health problems after childbirth and may contribute to increased depression and other concerns. Thankfully, counseling can manage this danger.

How Counseling Can Help

Counseling for binge eating during pregnancy must follow a two-sided approach. First of all, you need to manage your postpartum depression symptoms. This requires identifying what is making you depressed, talking to a counselor about your symptoms, and taking steps to carefully manage this symptoms in a healthy way.

After managing these symptoms, it is important to manage binge eating. This process usually requires assessing why you feel the need to binge eat after depression. It also requires taking steps to alter your diet in a healthy way. For example, you will learn healthier eating patterns and break the emotional hold that food has over your life.

As you can see, managing binge eating during and after pregnancy requires a careful approach to women's counseling. If you or someone you love is suffering from this problem, it is important to talk to a professional right away to manage this concern.