Does Joey’s world tour have an eating disorder? (11 symptoms of binge eating)

In this blog post, we shall answer the question “does Joey’s world tour have an eating disorder?” and look at who Joey is, and why people feel he has an eating disorder. We will also discuss binge eating, signs and symptoms, risk factors and its treatment.

Does Joey’s world tour have an eating disorder?

It is not certain that Joey’s world tour has an eating disorder. His fans and followers, however, have been speculating that he definitely is suffering from an eating disorder. Joey, however, has not confirmed nor denied the allegations.

Joey’s weight has been a topic of discussion ever since he started his YouTube channel. His weight has never been determined, but from observation, people feel he is morbidly obese. Before we discuss the possibility of Joey having an eating disorder, let us first look at who Joey is.

Who is Joey’s world tour?

Joseph Leon Hernandez, popularly known as Joey Hernandez, is a food reviewer and personal chef in the catering industry. Joey is from san Jose, California. He has a YouTube channel, Joey’s world tour, where he is the star.

Before creating his YouTube channel, he worked in many restaurants as a chef and manager. In 2012, he started working as a personal chef and caterer for Sublime Flavor Catering. Joey has been on YouTube since 2012. His channel has over 350k subscribers and over 20 million views.

He formerly wrote a blog called sublime flavour, but it ended in 2013 when the domain expired. On the about page, Joey wrote, “The goal of this site is to provide you with insights, recipes and musings about food, wine, life and dessert!”

Speculation about Joey’s eating disorder

Speculations of Joey having an eating disorder started when he started his YouTube channel and many felt that he is morbidly obese. Most of the people trolled him by calling him ‘pig’ and ‘fat ass’. He addressed these claims once when he was doing a shout-out video and addressed his ‘haters’.

These comments seemed to have little effect on him but at one time he documented himself walking around a track and he said he had lost 40 pounds. However, later in his YouTube comments, he said that he had given up on fitness and called himself a ‘thicc boi.’

Some cited that his tendency to devour a lot of food could be a sign that he had a binge eating disorder. Joey is a lover of food and the copious amounts of fast food he eats in one sitting are the reason for his weight. There is, however, little evidence to show that Joey has a binge eating disorder. We will therefore just educate ourselves on what binge eating disorder is.

What is binge eating disorder?

Binge eating disorder (BED) is an eating and feeding disorder that is now recognized as an official diagnosis in the DSM V. It is characterised by eating a lot of food in one sitting even when one is not hungry. It is mostly triggered by emotional stress and distress. 

A person may feel a sense of release and relief when binging but feels ashamed and lose control afterwards. This disorder affects 2% of the world’s population and causes additional health issues like diabetes and high cholesterol levels. 

Diagnosis of binge eating disorder

Overeating can be common, especially when there is a function. This does not mean that one has BED. It typically starts in the teenage hood to early 20s though it can occur at any age.

The severity of the symptoms ranges from mild, which is characterized by 1-3 BED episodes per week, to extreme, which is characterized by 14 or more binge-eating episodes per week. Joey’s tendency to eat large amounts of food in one sitting is a symptom of binge eating disorder, hence the speculations.

A healthcare professional must see three or more of the following symptoms:

• Eating large amounts of food without feeling hungry
• Eating until uncomfortably full
• Eating much more rapidly than considered normal
• Eating alone due to feelings of embarrassment and shame
• Feelings of disgust or guilt toward oneself

It is also common for people with binge eating disorder to experience extreme feelings of unhappiness and distress about their body shape, weight and overeating tendencies.

Causes of binge eating disorder

There are no specific causes that can be attributed to directly cause binge eating disorder. However, there are risk factors that can contribute to the development of BED. they include:

Gender

BED is more common in women than men. Research done in the US showed that 3.6% of women suffered from BED at some point in their life, compared to 2.0% of men. This could be attributed to biological factors.

Genetics

There is strong evidence that BED can be inherited. If you have a close family member with BED, then you are at risk of developing the disorder. People with BED have an increased sensitivity to dopamine(a chemical in the brain) that handles feelings of pleasure and reward.

Body size

Almost 50% of people diagnosed with BED have been diagnosed with obesity. At the same time, 25-50% of patients seeking weight loss surgery meet the criteria for diagnosing BED. Weight issues could be a cause or consequence of BED.

Changes in the brain

There is an indication that people with BED have changes in brain structure that heightens the response to food and less self-control. The chemical in the brain that controls this function is dopamine.

Body image

People who have a negative body image have a higher risk of developing binge eating disorders. Dieting, body dissatisfaction, and overeating are contributors to the development of BED.

Binge eating

This is the first symptom reported for people with the disorder hence the allegations made towards Joey. It includes binge eating in childhood or teenage years.

Emotional trauma

Stressful life events like bereavement, stress, abuse, car accidents, separation from loved ones and childhood bullying could be contributors to the development of binge eating disorders.

Psychological conditions

Research shows that almost 80% of people with binge eating disorder have been diagnosed with another psychological disorder i.e. depression, phobia, PTSD, anxiety, substance use disorder or bipolar disorder.

Dieting

Most people diagnosed with BED have a history of dieting. Restricting calories during the day can trigger episodes of binge eating especially if you have depression.

Symptoms of binge eating disorder

The symptoms of BED can be categorized into physical and behavioural symptoms. Some of these symptoms are observable in Joey’s case while some are difficult to confirm as he nor his close kin have talked about it. They include:

Physical symptoms

The physical symptoms of binge eating disorder include:

• Noticeable weight fluctuations, both up and down
• Difficulties concentrating
• Stomach cramps
• Non-specific gastrointestinal complaints i.e constipation, acid refluxes etc

Behavioural symptoms

The behavioural symptoms of binge eating disorder include:

• Developing food rituals i.e. excessive chewing or only eating a particular food group
• Isolation when eating out of embarrassment at the quantity of food consumed
• Feelings of low self-esteem
• Feelings of shame, guilt and guilt after overeating
• Disruptions in normal eating behaviours 
• Frequently checking in the mirror for perceived flaws
• Eating in a discrete period of time an amount of food that is larger than a normal individual would
• Appearing uncomfortable when eating with others
• Fear of eating in public
• Withdrawal from friends and family
• Frequently dieting
• Shows extreme concern with weight and shape evidence of binge eating, i.e. disappearance of large amounts of food in a short period of time

Complications

Binge eating can cause the development of psychological and physical problems like:

• Obesity
• Social isolation
• Poor quality of life
• Problems functioning at work, in social situations or in your personal life
• Medical conditions like diabetes, joint problems, heart diseases, gastroesophageal reflux disease and sleep-related breathing disorders
• Psychiatric disorders like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and substance use disorder

Treatment of binge eating disorder

The treatment of BED depends on the severity of the disorder as well as personal goals. The treatment should be a combination that targets behaviours, physical appearance and mental health issues. Some people require one type of treatment while others require a combination of various treatment methods.

Various types of therapies include:

Interpersonal therapy (IPT)

This suggests that binge eating is used as a coping mechanism for unresolved personal problems i.e grief, life transitions, relationship conflicts or social problems. The goal is to identify the underlying problems, acknowledge them and resolve them.

Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)

This suggests that BED is an emotional reaction to negative experiences. It teaches people to regulate emotions and cope with them without triggering BED. The four key areas are mindfulness, distress, tolerance, emotional regulation and interpersonal effectiveness.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

 It analyzes the relationship between thoughts, feelings and behaviours related to body image, shape, food and weight. Once the negative thought is identified, strategies are employed to change them which will also change feelings and behaviours.

Weight loss therapy

This aims at helping people lose weight healthily and improve self-esteem and body image. The intention is to make gradual healthy lifestyle changes through diet, exercise and monitoring food intake. This treatment plan should be combined with other behavioural therapies.

Medication

Antidepressants, antiepileptic drugs and drugs for treating hyperactive disorders can be used to treat symptoms that come with BED. they can also be used to reduce appetite, obsessions and compulsions. 

Self-help strategies to treat binge eating disorder

• Find someone to talk to
• Choose healthy foods
• Keep a food and mood diary
• Practice mindfulness
• Get enough sleep
• Start exercising

Conclusion

We have looked at who Joey’s world tour is and whether he had an eating disorder. We have discussed binge eating disorder, what it is, the symptoms, complications and treatment. Finally, we have looked at the self-help strategies in the treatment of binge eating disorder.

If you have any questions or comments, please let us know in the comment section below.

Frequently asked questions: Does Joey’s world tour have an eating disorder?

Does Joey’s world tour have autism?

Some followers and fans speculate that Joey has autism or another disorder due to his childlike tantrums, hyperactivity, and the noises he makes. This is yet to be confirmed as he has not addressed the allegations.

Who is Joey’s world tour?

He is a personal chef and a food reviewer from San Jose, California. He is the creator and star of the YouTube channel, JoeysWorldTour.

Is Joey’s world touring?

His YouTube channel is about food reviews, food challenges, and cooking demonstrations, among other content.

Citations

Rated D’s news and leaks, (June 23, 2016). JoeysWorldTour Cringe – Eating in Reverse. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CadWPSRrN9s

Joeypedia, Joey Hernandez. Retrieved from https://joeypedia.fandom.com/wiki/Joey_Hernandez