Compulsive Eating Disorder

Compulsive Overeating Treatment

What is Compulsive Eating Disorder?

Compulsive eating disorder, also called a binge eating disorder is characterized by an addiction to food. An individual suffering with compulsive eating disorder has episodes of uncontrolled eating or bingeing, during which he or she may feel anxious and panicky. The person may continue to eat even after becoming uncomfortably full. The binge is typically followed by a period of guilt and/or depression. Unlike bulimia, those with compulsive eating disorder typically do not purge themselves with vomiting, laxative use, or excessive exercise.

What are the Causes of Compulsive Eating Disorder?

As with other eating disorders (bulimia, anorexia), there is a significant psychological component to compulsive eating. Most sufferers use food as a way to hide from emotions, fill a void inside, and cope with daily stresses. Many people with compulsive eating disorder feel guilty for not being "good enough," shame for being overweight, and have low self esteem. They turn to food to cope with their painful feelings, which only leaves them feeling worse. Sufferers often have a constant need for love and validation, and without it, may go into obsessive episodes of overeating as a way to cope with pain.

People who suffer from compulsive eating disorder tend to be overweight, have a history of weight fluctuations, and are usually aware that their eating habits are abnormal. Unlike anorexia and bulimia, a large percentage of compulsive overeaters are male.

Compulsive Eating Disorder Signs and Symptoms

Compulsive overeaters consume large amounts of food, even when not physically hungry. They also tend to eat much more rapidly than normal, and eat to the point of feeling uncomfortable. People suffering from compulsive eating disorder often eat alone because of shame or embarrassment, and can have feelings of depression, disgust, or guilt after eating. A person suffering from compulsive eating disorder may show the following symptoms:

1. Weight gain.
2. Anxiety that they cannot control their eating and that while eating, they fear they may not be able to stop.
3. Isolation. Fear of eating around and with others.
4. Frequent dieting. Constantly trying new diet plans.
5. Believe that if they could just lose weight, life would be better.
6. High blood pressure and/or cholesterol.
7. Leg and joint pain.
8. Loss of sexual desire or promiscuous relations.
9. Mood swings. Fatigue. Depression.
10. Diminishing mobility as a result of weight gain.
11. Food hoarding and hiding food in places like closets, suitcases and the bedroom in order to eat at a later time.
12. Secretive eating patterns.
13. Expressing guilt and shame after consuming food.
14. Blames social and professional failures on weight.
15. Believe that food is their only friend.
16. Breathlessness after relatively light activities.
17. Excessive sweating.
18. Insomnia. Poor sleeping habits.

Compulsive Eating Disorder Complications

Without proper compulsive overeating treatment, the disorder can lead to several medical complications including high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, and depression. Additional long-term side effects include kidney disease, arthritis, bone deterioration, and stroke.

About 70% of persons with eating disorders who seek professional eating disorder help recover completely or make significant progress. All in all, eating disorders are behavior patterns that display very complex emotional conflicts, which need to be resolved for the person to have a healthy relationship with food.

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