Compulsive eating disorder, also known as binge eating or compulsive overeating, is a disorder characterized by periods where you deprive yourself of food, followed by a binge-eating episode. According to the Office of Health Education at the University of Pennsylvania, people suffering from compulsive eating often suffer from emotional problems and see food as their only friend.
Step 1
Look at the way you eat. Normal eating patterns are about eating until you feel satisfied. Binge eaters, on the other hand, eat until they're uncomfortably full. Eating large amounts of food in a short period of time, even if you're not hungry, is also a sign of compulsive eating disorder.
Step 2
Count how many times you've eaten alone in the last week. Compulsive eaters often eat when nobody is around so they don't have to explain their behavior, according to the University of Pennsylvania. If you'd rather eat late at night or when you're alone in the house and regularly avoid eating in public or with friends, you might have an eating disorder. This is especially true if you tend to eat normal amounts of food around other people but gorge on it when you're on your own.
Step 3
Make a list of any physical symptoms you might have. Many compulsive eaters have no physical symptoms, but many experience shortness of breath, joint pain, weight gain despite dieting, high blood pressure, insomnia and fatigue.
Step 4
Remember how you feel after overeating. According to HelpGuide, compulsive eating often causes feelings of shame, guilty or disgust toward yourself. It's also common to feel desperate to control your eating and to experience mood swings and anxiety.
