Compulsive Eating Disorder

Overeating on occasion is regular. However, a person who has a compulsive eating disorder can’t stop eating regardless of how full they are. An intensive outpatient eating disorder treatment center offers a wide range of therapy for people who struggle with overeating.

Whether you are a binge eater or addicted to food, compulsive eating disorder treatment can help you cope with anxiety, depression, PTSD, or another mental disorder without turning to food. You do not have to think about food all the time or feel guilty for eating. To find out more about how you can get help, contact a treatment center in your area today.

How Does Compulsive Eating Disorder Develop?

A compulsive eating disorder does not always start in the same way as other eating disorders. In some cases, a person may start a habit that turns into an addiction. However, like other addictions, the disorder often develops due to an emotional problem or mental disorder. For instance, a person who has a negative body image may turn to food.

In other cases, someone may eat compulsively as a counter to a restrictive diet. They may prohibit certain foods from their diet, then binge eats those foods and, afterward, feel guilty. This vicious cycle can continue for several years. Eventually, the person becomes comfortable with the cycle even they feel bad about it.

Compulsive Eating Warning Signs

It can take several or months or years to identify the signs of compulsive eating. One of the reasons for this is that compulsive eating is not necessarily viewed as a problem that requires treatment. So, people may dismiss the person as having a ‘healthy appetite.’

Eventually, the signs of compulsive eating become more pronounced, making it evident that the person needs help. In worst-case scenarios, someone who struggles from the disorder may gain several hundred pounds. As a result, they may need to undergo a residential eating disorder treatment program.

Compulsive eating warning signs may include:

Eating Abnormally Large Amounts of Food

A person who is a compulsive eater may also have a problem with binging. When a person binges, they eat large amounts of food that other people would consider unusual. Binge eating disorder (BED) is similar to compulsive disorder in that a person cannot control how much food they eat.

Consuming Food at an Unusual Rate

A compulsive person may eat food incredibly fast, not slowing down to allow the food to digest properly. Or, they may slowly eat food throughout the day and night, only allowing an hour or two between each episode.

Eating Past Feeling Full

Compulsive eating often involves consuming far more food than you need. For instance, a person may consume an entire bag of chips and feel sick afterward, when only a small portion of chips would have sufficed. When eating past full, the person feels discomfort or pain that can last for up to an hour.

Eating Alone

A compulsive eater may feel ashamed or embarrassed about their eating habit. As a result, they often eat alone instead of eating with others at home or in public. They may hide food in their room or at a desk at work so that they can eat when no one is looking. They may turn down any invitations to go out and eat with friends or family.