What is Compulsive Overeating?

Compulsive overeating is not characterized like the other eating disorders, although it has many similar features. It is often considered a food addiction. It is also similar to other eating disorders in that people with this problem use food to deal with emotions.

Characteristics

This disorder is characterized by frequent episodes of uncontrolled eating (much like binge eating). The act feels completely out of control, but the person has very little or no power to stop it. When they do finally stop, the person is filled with tremendous feelings of guilt.

Someone with this disorder will often eat throughout the day, although much of that eating will not be binge eating. They will pick at food - grazing throughout the day as if they never feel full.

Diagnostic Criteria

There are no diagnostic criteria for this food addiction, although there are signs and symptoms that someone is suffering from it. Please see symptoms of binge eating disorder for more information.

How is Compulsive Overeating
Different from Binge Eating?

Binge eating is very similar in terms of the behavior. A compulsive overeater will binge eat. However, the addiction aspect of this disorder is not present in binge eating disorder. People with BED will not obsess over food as is the case with this disorder. That is the addictive nature of this food addiction. While not technically classified as an eating disorder, it is generally accepted to be one of the eating disorders.

Go from Compulsive Overeating back to Types of Eating Disorders

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