Binge eating episodes following a bodybuilding competition are not a lack of willpower, but a biological survival response triggered by a collapse in leptin (satiety), a rise in ghrelin (hunger), and hypersensitivity of the brain's reward system to food.

noli's read

Abbey Sharp's explanation is based on solid scientific foundations. Several observational and clinical case studies (such as those by Mäestu et al., 2008 or Halliday et al., 2016) confirm that extreme physical preparation induces a state of severe energy deficit. Biological analyses consistently show a drastic drop in leptin linked to fat loss, coupled with a rise in ghrelin which stimulates appetite. From a behavioral perspective, the sudden lifting of hyper-strict dietary rules creates an ideal environment for disinhibition. While the concept of an over-activated brain reward system is highly consistent with models of severe restriction in behavioral psychology, imaging evidence specific to post-competition fitness athletes remains thin. The overall presentation is scientifically rigorous and addresses the body's regulatory signals realistically.

the sources

No named source held this one up — that absence is part of the verdict.