6 ways overeating can adversely affect your health

While it may not come as a surprise for most of you but it is pertinent to note that overeating can destabilize your health as it can rupture your stomach and may cause changes in the overall body composition. 

A study published in the American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism says that though overeating occasionally doesn’t cause any side effects on your body, if done regularly, it can affect your weight, fat concentration, and even blood sugar levels. Moreover, the major risk of overeating is associated with the high caloric intake that could increase the risk portfolio of your overall health. 

So, to help you avoid any negative effects of overeating, we list down six harmful effects for you to consider:

1. Excessive fat accumulation

If you overeat frequently, over time, this will slow down your digestive process which in turn stores food into your stomach for a longer period of time, promoting excess fat to store in the body. According to a 2012 study, accumulation of excessive fat in the body and getting more nutrients than you need leads to unwanted weight gain and obesity. 

2. It may lead to diabetes

Becoming overweight through overeating is the biggest factor behind the risk of type 2 diabetes according to the American Diabetes Association. This occurs because chronic overeating stops the blood cells to convert blood glucose into energy and makes your blood sugar levels harder to control, thereby increasing the risk of diabetes.  

3. Hampers a good night’s sleep

Overeating causes one to feel lethargic and affects the sleeping pattern as one tends to stay awake to overcome eating urges and indulge in creating opportunities to eat.

4. May Increase cardiovascular health risk

Binge eating can raise the chances of heart diseases and other health problems. Overeating can release the stress hormone ‘norepinephrine’ which in turn increases heart rate and blood pressure. In fact, for people who already have heart diseases, their risk of heart attack jumps four times higher with just two hours of following a large meal as per a study by the American Heart Association.

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5. Disrupts the digestive system

Overeating, especially unhealthy foods can take a toll on your digestive system. You may suffer some sort of digestive distress like acid reflux, heartburn, leaky gut syndrome or IBS, excessive bloating, and gas. It can also impact your hunger regulation by disturbing hunger hormones like ghrelin which stimulate appetite and leptin, which suppresses appetite.

6. Might impair brain function

Overeating could impair brain function as large quantities of high calorie foods is known to cause memory loss and decline of mental faculties. In fact, a Nutrition and Diabetes study found that overeating disrupts production of uroguanylin, a hormone that helps transmit signals of fullness and satiation to the brain. 

Tips to prevent overeating

• Pay proper attention to the food when you’re eating. Many people overeat because they don’t keep a check on what they’re eating. 
• Eat slowly and chew your food as much as you can for easy digestion.
• Eat fibre rich foods as they help people feel full for longer durations.
• Consume a healthy portion like a protein-rich diet which reduces the level of hunger regulating hormone ghrelin.

So ladies, pay attention to what you’re eating and how much food is enough for you to feel full and rest assured you will feel healthier and energised in no time.