Compulsive overeating

Compulsive overeating, or “binge eating disorder,” is characterized by recurrent overeating. Compulsive overeating, is an eating disorder in which a person consumes large amounts of food up to the point of uncomfortable fullness, leaving feelings of guilt. People with this disorder are driven by compulsion to keep eating.

Compulsive overeating is characterized by uncontrollable eating and consequent weight gain. Compulsive overeaters use food as a way to cope with stress, emotional conflicts and daily problems.

Why should I be aware of this?

Compulsive overeating may be the most common of eating disorders.

Many overeaters resolve to stop overeating due to guilt and poor self-image and attempt to maintain a strict diet. Unfortunately, this drastic method often backfires and results in another binge, leaving yet again feelings of shame and self-hatred.

Like anorexia and bulimia, compulsive overeating is a serious problem and can result in death. In today's society, compulsive overeating is not yet taken seriously enough. With the proper treatment, which should include therapy, medical and nutritional counseling, it can be overcome.

How does this affect me?

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Physical Effects

• Obesity
• High blood pressure and cholesterol levels
• Heart disease, other heart problems
• Joint problems
• Lack of sleep
• Type 2 diabetes
• Gastrointestinal problems

Emotional Effects

• Depression
• Stress
• Anxiety
• Lack of interest in previously enjoyed activities
• Low self-esteem

All about compulsive overeating

• Compulsive overeaters feel that food can block out feelings and emotions. *Compulsive overeaters usually feel out of control and are aware their eating patterns are abnormal. They do recognize they have a problem.
• Compulsive overeating usually starts in early childhood when
• Most compulsive eaters include those who never learned the proper way to deal with stressful situations and used food instead as a way of coping.
• Unlike anorexia and bulimia, there is a high proportion of male overeaters.
• The more weight that is gained, the harder they try to diet and dieting is usually what leads to the next binge.

Symptoms

• Binge eating
• Fear of not being able to stop eating voluntarily
• Depression
• Self-deprecating thoughts following binges
• Withdrawing from activities because of embarrassment about weight
• Going on many different diets
• Eating little in public, while maintaining a high weight
• Believing they will be a better person when thin
• Feelings about self based on weight
• Social and professional failures attributed to weight
• Feeling tormented by eating habits
• Weight is focus of life

Treatment of overeating

Treatment for compulsive overeaters combines diet, behavior modification (lifestyle change), nutritional education, exercise, medication (where appropriate) and long-term maintenance support.

As for pharmacologic treatment, compulsive overeaters are primarily treated with antidepressants. Psychological treatment, particularly cognitive/behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy, is as effective as antidepressants in the short-term. However, in the long-term, psychological treatment is more effective

Compulsive overeating vs. Bulimia

• Unlike bulimia, in binge eating disorder, a person will not use other behavior to make up for the binge.
• Both are characterized by a feeling of loss of control.
• Compulsive overeaters will often eat in private to keep their bingeing a secret and will binge when they aren’t even hungry.

What can I do?

• Munch fresh vegetables like carrots, cucumbers whenever you feel hungry. These fresh vegetables not only fill your appetite, but also provide enough fibre and minerals for your body.
• Develop the habit of eating at least two servings of salads before every meal. *Eating salads can be made tasty by many natural homemade toppings.
• Aerated drinks tend to make you eat more than what you can eat at any meal. Instead eat fruits for snacking or drink fruit juices.
• Eat small regular meals. Instead of three huge meals, have six to seven small meals throughout the day.
• Maintain your eating timings to avoid the starvation for food.

Unlearn

• It is assumed that compulsive overeating is not as serious a problem as anorexia or bulimia. However, those who are compulsive overeaters have an equally difficult struggle with their life and suffer from numerous physical problems and emotional strain.
• People believe that only females have eating disorders. Although the majority of people with an eating disorder are female, the numbers of males are increasing significantly
• Some people think that those who are overweight are lazy and can not control themselves but this is a common misconception.

References

• Compulsive overeating
• Treatment for Compulsive Overeating
• Compulsive Overeating
• Compulsive Overeating
• Recover from Overeating
• Binge Eating or Compulsive Overeating