Compulsive eating disorder is commonly referred to as binge eating. It's the most prevalent type of eating disorder in the U.S., affecting 3 percent of the adult population, according to the Weight-control Information Network, a service of the National Institutes of Health. Compulsive eating disorder is complex, but one of the main criteria for diagnosis is the occurrence of two or more binge eating episodes a week for at least six months. It's also characterized by a combination of behavioral, physical and emotional symptoms.
Background
Compulsive eating has some common features with other eating disorders like bulimia and anorexia nervosa, but compulsive eaters won't use laxatives, purge food or exercise vigorously after a binge eating episode. Compulsive eaters may try to diet, but usually it's unhealthy or extreme dieting, leading to a vicious cycle in which binges are followed by severe diets that lead to further binge eating.
Behavioral Signs
If you're a compulsive eater, you don't have regular set mealtimes. Instead you'll eat throughout the day. You won't eat when other people are around out of embarrassment, or will eat very little in their presence. However, when you're alone you'll rapidly consume vast quantities of food, eating when you're not hungry and eating until you're so full you feel uneasy. You'll feel like you're unable to stop eating and will have no control over what and how much you're eating. You may even make excuses to miss school or work and not attend social events so you can stay at home and eat.
Physical Signs
Although most compulsive eaters are overweight or obese, some are normal weight. Following a binge eating episode, you may experience bloating, heartburn, diarrhea or abdominal pain. In an attempt to forget your bingeing episode you may sleep for a few hours. Alternatively you may suffer from bouts of insomnia.
Emotional Signs
Compulsive eating usually has an underlying cause that may be biological, physical or environmental, which causes you to turn to food for comfort. After a binge eating episode you'll probably feel disgusted, disappointed and even depressed with yourself. Weight-control Information Network reports you may feel like a failure and embarrassed for being unable to control your weight loss and eating habits, resulting in low self-esteem.
