Overeating refers to the act of eating an excessive amount of food in one sitting. It is often referred to as a binge or compulsive overeating disorder. Whether it manifests into a full-blown daily eating disorder or just happens once in awhile, overeating can take a toll on your body and mind.
Signs
You might have an overeating disorder if you find yourself compulsively overeating on a regular basis. Compulsive overeaters tend to eat uncontrollably, fear their inability to stop eating, feel depressed, think negatively about themselves and eat little in public settings only to return home and consume a huge quantity of food. Food, weight and diets are often the only things compulsive overeaters think about in their daily lives. Most overeaters recognize they have a problem but feel out of control and unable to stop themselves from their destructive eating behaviors.
Causes
Many overeaters consider food to be their comforting drug of choice. Compulsive overeaters use food to manage stress, emotional problems and life's daily ups and downs. By using food as a coping mechanism, overeaters ignore their feelings and never confront and deal with their emotions and problems in a healthy way. Some people overeat out of boredom, loneliness and despair. Other overeaters might have a food addiction that leads to the disorder.
Health Effects
Physically, overeating can lead to weight gain, obesity, hypertension, heart disease, high cholesterol, diabetes and arthritis. Mentally and emotionally, it can lead to depression, low self-esteem and feelings of failure, guilt and embarrassment.
Treatment
Food can never be completely eliminated from an overeater's life, so ongoing treatment is optimal. Overeaters need to learn how to cope with their feelings in healthier ways. Therapy and counseling are methods many overeaters choose for treatment. There also are support groups available for overeaters to attend. There, they can discuss their feelings, problems and addictions in a safe, supportive environment with a community of people who share similar overeating histories.
References
- "Designated Fat Girl"; Jennifer Joyner; 2010
- Mirror-Mirror: Compulsive Overeating
- Overeaters Anonymous: About OA
