What is hyperphagia?
Hyperphagiais a conglomerate ofmetabolic and behavioral alterations, where the persondevours excessive amounts of food, beyond dietary recommendations, even in the absence of hunger.
Note: The personalso demonstrates obsessive behaviorsregarding food, compulsive and intrusive thoughtsthat cloud the mind and prompt the person to satisfy this desire.
Hyperphagia is not a symptomin itself, it is one more symptom of a series ofmetabolic or hereditary syndromes, most associated with obesity.
Causes of hyperphagia
Hyperphagiais a characteristic signof many diseases, most hereditary or genetic, which we will mention below.
Hormonal and nutritional alterations
Hunger and satiety are antagonistic mental states, kept in balance by a series ofphysiological factors (metabolic and psychological). When these are altered, eating disorders occur.
Disorders of leptin, the hormone produced and released by our fat cells to inhibit hunger, causethe person not to feel any full, even after eating large amounts of food.
Important: Various studies (1) have postulated that the cause is due to an imbalance in the hypothalamus , the circadian cycle and, possibly, alterations in neurotransmitters .
low sugar levels
Generally, hypoglycemia is accompanied by other symptoms such as excessive sweating, tremors, general weakness and, in more severe cases, hypotension and fainting.
Diabetes
Hyperphagia, together with polydipsia and polyuria, are considered together as the hallmark of type II diabetes mellitus. The inability of cells to transport sugar from the blood to the cells that need it (such as muscle) causes excessive hunger. It can also be seen present in type I diabetes mellitus.
Anxiety
During anxiety attacks,certain individuals adopt behaviors to try to suppress and/or alleviate these highly aggravating emotions. Some adopt food as a method of escape.
To highlight: By eating food, and replenishing our glucose levels , our body feels a slight and temporary boost in energy and mental claritytag. However, this can get worse if left unchecked and lead to an eating disorder.
Graves’ disease
Drugs
Certain Psychiatric medications have a side effect of weight gain, the product of insatiable hunger. Possibly, products of the changes that they induce on the metabolic pathways of the hypothalamus .
Important: There is a wide variety of adverse responses topsychiatric medications, even within the same class of drug. Certain studies suggest that the individual’s genetic characteristics may play a role in this.(two)
Premenstrual syndrome
There are case reports, such as one published by the Journal of Eating Disorders , where there is talk of a woman with Dysphoric Premenstrual Syndrome , a more serious variant of Premenstrual Syndrome. (3)
For a decade, he had suffered from Binge Eating Disorder, uncontrollable urges to eat, and hyperphagia. This syndrome, together with premenstrual syndrome,derives from an imbalance of sexual hormones.
Symptoms of hyperphagia
Hyperphagia is a symptom that affects both the body and the mind of the individual, so the signs of hyperphagia can be detected by observing behavioral changes in the person, as we will see below.
sudden increase in appetite
The person experiences a sudden hunger, originally caused by metabolic, endocrine or psychiatric imbalances , produced by some of the diseases that we already mentioned.
After a certain time, if it is not controlled, hyperphagia can occur even in the absence of any appetitetag. This is because our body has become used to receiving the “reward” that is the sensation of eating.
Important: According to studies published in electronic journals, such as Nature reviews Neuroscience , the consumption of foods overloaded with trans fats and processed sugar , can alter the person’s reward systems, comparable to drug addictions. (4) )(5)
Guilty feeling
Hyperphagia is not a strictly voluntary activity,in many cases. Food is addictive, to the point where a person seeks it out, no matter how long they want to stop.
It is a constant desire to search for food and eat,even if the person is not hungry. What happens to the mind of the afflicted person? He is unable to maintain his concentration, to perform activities without thinking about food, to maintain a state of mental peace.
Note: All these phenomena act synergistically to worsen the mental state of the person, generating anxiety, despair and even depression.
unhealthy cravings
Due to the addictive nature of unhealthy foods , which proliferate in developed countries, it is not surprising that the brain seeks more and more, an insatiable craving that leads to hyperphagia and overweight.
The person does not stop thinking about fried food , loaded with sodium, processed sugar and unhealthy fats, such as hamburgers, French fries, sugary drinks, desserts, etc.
Overweight
It is the main and most dangerous complication . A hypercaloric diet carries all kinds of dangers: high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, type II diabetes mellitus, breathing difficulties, joint pain, stress and anxiety.
Digestive disorders
Stomach pains, abdominal bloating, alterations in intestinal transit, the number and frequency with which the person defecates, constipation and much more, are some examples of what excessive eating can cause.
Treatment for hyperphagia
In most cases, hyperphagia subsides by treating the underlying disorders. Next, we will mention some of these treatments.
Psychological therapy
An eating disorder should not be treated lightly, so a health professional should be the one to provide you with the tools, information, and support you need to control intrusive thoughts.
Note: Individual or group therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, or interpersonal psychotherapy have shown favorable results with patients with eating disorders.
Adjustments in drug consumption
If the compulsive behavior , intrusive thoughts about food, uncontrollable cravings, and so on, began shortly after starting a Therapeutic regimen , it is necessary for the person to consult their doctor of choice.
Important: Some drugs thatstimulate a person’s appetiteand cause weight gain are antipsychotics (clozapine or risperidone), antiepileptics (gabapentin or valproate) and insulin secretagogues (sulfonylureas, for example).
Modification of eating habits
Cutting back on foods high in empty calories, like junk food, will benefit your body in countless ways. In general,decrease your intake of processed sugar and sodium.
On the other hand, what you should have in your diet are good complex carbohydrates (fiber), proteins, polyunsaturated fats (found in fish, avocado and olive oil), more vegetables and legumes, they will do you very well too. .
Tip: It is recommended to drink more water or natural tea, reduce the portions served, not eat late at night and reduce the number of snacks between meals, or at least replace them with nutritious foods.
Do distracting activities
Keeping your mind busyis essential during the first days. Desperation and the desire to eat will undoubtedly invade your mind, but only if you are not looking forsome kind of healthy distraction on which to focus your energy and attention.
Tip: Exercise, such as daily walks, going out with friends, reading books, completing your work, starting those projects that you have always wanted to undertake, will keep your mind moving during the day, avoiding thinking about food.
Practice breathing and relaxation exercises
On the one hand, keeping your mind occupied is an effective strategy. On the other hand, meditation is also important: it helps you focus on your thoughts and emotions, temporarily free yourself from all those daily distractors to find yourself, in your personal and unique time.
Choose a certain time in your day to make room for these meditation exercises, turn off or hide all distractors (phone, laptop, television or pets) and focus your mind on this goal.
Chewing food slowly
Fast chewingis a very harmful and particularly common eating habit. Some people evenSwallow Morsels of Food, just having chewed them 3 to 4 times. Which is not healthy at all.
Therefore, properly chewing your food induces the release of leptin and inhibits ghrelin (the “hunger hormone”), which will make you feel full and less likely to overeat.
Tip: It is recommended to Chew approximately 30 timeseach bite of food. This also helps to better break down food, through the action of salivary enzymes.
Avoid being alone
A person who suddenly cuts out eating time and replaces it with nothing else will obviously have trouble maintaining this goal.
Therefore, it is recommended that you “fill” this “empty time” with healthy activities,such as those mentioned above. Even having a conversation with someone else will keep your mind off food.
Key Findings
- Hyperphagia is an eating disorder, characterized by obsessive eating behaviors, where the person is unable to satisfy their hunger.
- Hyperphagia is usually related to underlying disorders that, if left unchecked, lead to obesity and other chronic problems.
- Excessive consumption of calorically empty foods, such as junk food, produces an addictive effect on the brain.
- Seeking professional psychological help, modifying your eating habits, exercising more, and practicing meditation are useful strategies.
University Professional in the area of Human Resources, Postgraduate in Occupational Health and Hygiene of the Work Environment, 14 years of experience in the area of health. Interested in topics of Psychology, Occupational Health, and General Medicine.