Food is the cure to all worries-at least that's how a great number of people feel. I'm sure you've heard of the term "comfort food". Unfortunately, compulsive overeating is usually used as a tool to escape from stress, worries, or just reality in general. Shame and regret about overeating soon follow bouts of compulsive overeating.
Compulsive overeating appears twice as often in women then it does in men. The overeater will continue to eat even after they feel uncomfortably full. Many of the health risks associated with compulsive overeating relate to the weight gain linked to the overeating patterns. Compulsive overeating usually follows a gradual progression. Roots for compulsive overeating are typically formed during childhood. Food might have been used to make a child feel better if they were upset. This pattern of using food as an emotional distraction or escape would continue and slowly spiral downwards until it reaches it peak later in life.
The shame and guilt that compulsive overeaters feel often leads them to try and stop their eating patterns. This often leads to obsession with food and rigorous dieting standards. The dieting standards might slow down or offset weight gain, but emotional needs are the main reason for compulsive overeating. Dieting standards are often set too high for the person to achieve, which leads them to feelings of failure and disappointment. Since their emotions are the primary reasons overeaters turn to food, the failure associated with not reaching the goals of the diet will lead to even more overeating. This turns into a vicious downward spiral of negative emotions and food. The shame and guilt about weight gain and appearance will cause the person to withdraw from society. Low self esteem is also usually present during this time.
Prejudice is extremely common toward compulsive overeaters. Their problem is seen as a lack of self control. Words like gluttonous, lazy, and disgusting are hurled at compulsive overeaters. Compulsive overeating is just as legitimate as anorexia nervosa, or bulimia nervosa, and is just recently gaining the proper recognition.
Compulsive overeaters can have very interesting habits associated with their aliment. Hiding or hording of food can be common. Lack of control of eating during binge periods is another characteristic. Some emotional symptoms can be moodiness, irritability, depression, regret about eating, perfectionist tendencies, and avoidance of conflict.
Treatment for compulsive overeating is most successful when it is guided by a mental health professional. The mental health profession is recommended because overeating is usually related to deep rooted emotional problems.
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