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For millions of women, the sudden urge to polish off a pint of ice cream or demolish an entire bag of chips can feel impossible to explain.
Now, new research suggests a widely used medication may be playing a bigger role than previously thought.
A study published in JAMA found that women were significantly more likely to binge eat on certain days, and the trigger wasn’t stress, bad moods or other medications.
Instead, researchers discovered a hormonal connection that could help explain why some women experience powerful food cravings and episodes of overeating.
The findings shed new light on binge eating, a serious but often misunderstood condition that disproportionately affects girls and women and is linked to depression, substance abuse and other health complications.
The culprit, they found, is none other than combined oral contraceptives, better known as the birth control pill.
Combined oral contraceptives are the most commonly prescribed form of hormonal contraception and is used by 85% of women at some point in their lives, according to a 2012 study.
Researchers tracked 422 women ages 15 to 30 from the Michigan State University Twin Registry over 49 consecutive days, roughly two menstrual cycles. Participants also recorded their daily use of active and inactive birth control pills, along with episodes of overeating.
The study found that binge eating increased on days when women were taking active birth control pills compared with days they were taking inactive (or placebo) pills.
Notably, the association remained even after researchers accounted for factors that could influence eating behavior, including negative moods and use of other medications. The pill also did not appear to have a significant affect on weight preoccupation.
Researchers observed another intriguing trend: As participants continued documenting their eating habits throughout the study, binge eating episodes generally declined.
The finding suggests that simply tracking behavior may help some women become more aware of eating patterns and regain a sense of control.
So does this mean women should toss their birth control packs? Not so fast.
Researchers said this is the first large-scale study to examine day-to-day changes in binge eating between active and inactive birth control pill days. Still, they cautioned that the findings are preliminary.
For now, the research offers an important reminder that hormones can influence eating behavior, but don’t necessarily determine it.
Dr. Deena Hailoo, MD — the obesity medical director for Northwell’s Huntington, Plainview and Syosset hospitals — was not involved with this study but echoed researchers, telling the Post that the findings are intriguing yet far from definitive.
To better understand the connection, she said, researchers will need to examine whether other forms of hormonal contraception, like IUDs, vaginal rings and implants, produce similar effects.
In the meantime, Dr. Hailoo believes food journaling can be valuable tool for women who are concerned about binge eating or increased cravings while taking the pill.
“We do tell people to try to keep a food journal because that would help a lot, to see their own behavior written down,” she said.
Dr. Hailoo also emphasized the importance of a balanced diet rich in whole foods, adequate protein and fiber, regular exercise and strong emotional support when it comes to maintaining healthy weight and managing cravings.
“Every woman is different, every person is different, and they all require really individualized care,” she added.
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