Compulsive Overeating

[Done-With-It!]

Compulsive Overeating


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. The food can block out feelings and emotions. Compulsive overeaters usually feel out of control and are aware their eating patterns are abnormal. Like bulimics, compulsive overeaters do recognize they have a problem.
Compulsive overeating usually starts in early childhood when eating patterns are formed. Most people who become compulsive eaters are people who never learned the proper way to deal with stressful situations and used food instead as a way of coping. Fat can also serve as a protective function for them, especially in people that have been victims of sexual abuse. They sometimes feel that being overweight will keep others at a distance and make them less attractive. 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, which can be followed by feelings of powerlessness, guilt, shame and failure. Dieting and bingeing can go on forever if the emotional reasons for the bingeing is not dealt with.

In today's society, compulsive overeating is not yet taken seriously enough. Instead of being treated for the serious problem they have, they are instead directed to diet centers and health spas. Like anorexia and bulimia, compulsive overeating is a serious problem and can result in death. With the proper treatment, which should include therapy, medical and nutritional counseling, it can be overcome.
Signs and 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

Physical/Medical Complications

• Weight gain
• Hypertension or fatigue
• Heart ailments
• Mobility problems
• Diabetes
• Arthritis
• Sciatica
• Varicose veins
• Hiatal hernia
• Embolism
• Sleep depravation
• Toxemia during pregnancy
• High blood pressure
• Shortness of breath
• High Cholesterol levels
• Cardiac arrest and death

Written by: Colleen Thompson
Resources:
-Surviving an Eating Disorder: Perspectives and Strategies for Family and Friends by Michelle Siegel, Ph.D., Judith Brisman, Ph.D., and Margot Weinshel, Ph.D. - Harper & Row Publishers, NY, 1988
-Walking A Thin Line by Pam Vredevelt and Joyce Whitman - Mullnomah Press, Oregon 1985
-Eating Disorders Handout - Sudbury General Hospital Eating Disorders Clinic (information for handout obtained from NEDIC)

[Done-With-It!]

Definition
Binge eating disorder is characterized by consuming large quantities of food in a very short period of time until the individual is uncomfortably full. Binge eating disorder is much like bulimia except the individuals do not use any form of purging (i.e. vomiting, laxatives, fasting, etc.) following a binge. Individuals usually feel out of control during a binge episode, followed by feelings of guilt and shame. Many individuals who suffer with binge eating disorder use food as a way to cope with or block out feelings and emotions they do not want to feel. Individuals can also use food as a way to numb themselves, to cope with daily life stressors, to provide comfort to themselves or fill a void they feel within. Like all eating disorders, binge eating is a serious problem but can be overcome through proper treatment.
Signs and Symptoms

• weight gain
• feeling out of control over eating
• low self-esteem
• depression
• anxiety
• experiences fluctuations in weight
• loss of sexual desire
• hiding food
• feelings of guilt and shame
• disgusted with self
• going on many different diets
• belief that life will be better if they lose weight
• secretive eating patterns
• avoidance of social situations where food will be present
• suicidal thoughts

Physical/Medical Complications

• obesity
• menstrual irregularities
• diabetes
• high blood pressure
• high cholestrol
• osteoarthritis
• decreased mobility
• shortness of breath
• heart disease
• liver and kidney problems
• cardiac arrest and/or death

Written by: Colleen Thompson
Resources:
-Surviving an Eating Disorder: Perspectives and Strategies for Family and Friends by Michelle Siegel, Ph.D., Judith Brisman, Ph.D., and Margot Weinshel, Ph.D. - Harper & Row Publishers, NY, 1988

Copyright © 1996 by [Colleen Thompson]. All rights reserved.
Revised: 05 Jul 2004 08:40:00 -0400 .