COMPULSIVE OVEREATING

SYMPTOMS

Compulsive overeating symptoms and signs are diverse and complex. Symptoms include:

• Binge eating
• Eating at night
• Eating impulsively
• Eating what most individuals think of as an exceptionally large volume of food
• Eating much quicker or eating slowly than normal throughout the day and night
• Eating beyond normal dietary needs or until uncomfortably full
• Eating despite not feeling hungry at all
• Eating alone, caused by guilt or embarrassment of the amount of food consumed
• Feeling disgusted, depressed, or guilty by overeating
• Compulsive diet behaviors, such as hiding food and consuming food from the trash.

DIAGNOSIS

Understand that both behavioral and biological factors contribute to overweight and that there is a co-occurring eating disorder in many overweight or obese people. 

Treatment for compulsive overeating may be very daunting as they deal with conditions that, if left unchecked, may have serious physical and mental effects. For this reason, people struggling with this eating disorder, especially with severe cases, must seek professional help. One of the most popular and successful methods for enhancing recovery is by getting help from a clinical team specializing in eating disorders. The process of healing may always be lengthy and arduous and may involve numerous highs and lows, but the benefits received are invaluable and life-saving.

TREATMENT

Treatment for compulsive overeating requires a specialized treatment approach like programs that offer intensive, multidisciplinary treatment for overweight or obese adults and adolescents, including medical, psychiatric, behavioral, and nutritional care. The type of treatment may vary depending on the severity of the eating disorder acquired by the patient.

Compulsive overeating treatments

• Inpatient or Hospital Treatment
• Outpatient Treatment or Seeing a Therapist / Counselor
• Intensive Outpatient Treatment
• Residential Treatment

Helpful therapies for compulsive overeating

• Art therapy
• Dance or movement therapy
• Dialectical behavioral therapy
• Family therapy
• Medical nutrition therapy

It is vital that health professionals are the ones to determine the interests, strengths, and level of eating disorders the patients in the treatment program needed. These aspects are very helpful in establishing therapies in the treatment plan.