Compulsive Overeating Treatment
What is Compulsive Overeating?
Compulsive overeating is an eating disorder characterized by vicious cycles of binge-eating and depression. For compulsive overeaters, food is used as a coping mechanism to deal with unwanted feelings. Many compulsive overeaters speak of using binge-eating as a way to numb all that is going on around them. The amount of food eaten and duration of each binge can vary greatly from person to person.
Compulsive Overeating Behavior
For many individuals suffering from compulsive overeating, binges may not be able to be broken into specific episodes, but rather days where the individual eats more than normal throughout the day.
Compulsive overeating may temporarily relieve the stress of these unwanted feelings, but for the individual the overeating episodes are unfortunately followed by feelings of guilt, shame, disgust, and further depression. For the compulsive overeater, episodes of compulsive overeating usually occur in secret and any evidence is often hidden from others.
It is not uncommon for the individual to eat normally or even restrictively in front of others and then make up for eating less by overeating in private at a later time. Late at night, when others are asleep, food addicts commonly frequent fast food restaurants and convenience stores. Many even have a secret stash of junk food hidden for their personal use.
Triggers for Compulsive Overeating
Compulsive overeating is often directly linked to psychological factors. Eating becomes a form of self-medication to temporarily mask the effects of psychological disorders. Some triggers for compulsive overeating include:
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Interpersonal stress
• Boredom
• Prolonged dieting
• Body image dissatisfaction
A Negative Body Image
Similar to anorexics and bulimics, compulsive overeaters are constantly struggling and are unhappy with their weight and appearance. The number they read on the scale often determines how they feel about themselves. Constant dieting and restricting food becomes a way of life.
Each new diet is tried in hope that it will be the one that finally works to combat the overeating. At first, there may even be some weight loss success with the diet, but unfortunately in most cases each diet ends in failure and all the lost weight is regained. Thus continues the devastating cycle.
Compulsive Overeating Symptoms
Symptoms of compulsive overeating include:
• Binge eating, eating when full
• Hiding food
• Eating alone due to shame or embarrassment
• Preoccupation with body weight
• Rapid weight fluctuations
• Constant dieting
• Eating much more rapidly than normal
Medical Complications from Compulsive Overeating
Medical complications from the behavior accompanying this eating disorder can be severe and even life-threatening. Diabetes, hypertension and cardiac problems are just a few of the dangerous complications.
For a complete list of potential medical problems for compulsive overeating, visit our Medical Complications page.
Compulsive Overeating Treatment and Lifelong Recovery
Compulsive overeating affects both the body and mind. Rader Programs understands this complexity and will help you to build the compulsive overeating treatment that fits with your lifestyle. Like eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia, compulsive overeating is a disease and cannot be cured with willpower alone.
We offer different levels of care tailored to your individual needs including a 24-hour program, a daycare program, a family program that allows loved ones to assist in the recovery process, and continued care. Let Rader Programs design the anorexia treatment plan that will keep you healthy for life.
Getting Help for Compulsive Overeating
Eating disorders destroy lives and tears families apart. If compulsive overeating is left untreated, it can be fatal. Rader Programs is dedicated to designing compulsive overeating treatment plan that rebuilds your mind, body and spirit. We will also work with you to improve your personal relationships for a more balanced lifestyle.
Our interdisciplinary staff works around the clock to provide you with personalized care and put you on the road to total recovery.
Let Rader Programs help you achieve a healthier, happier future.
For more information on Rader Programs’ compulsive overeating program and other treatment plans, call 1-800-841-1515 or request a free assessment today.