Compulsive Eating Disorder.

Almost everyone overeats from time to time taking a third helping at Thanksgiving dinner, for example, or downing a whole package of cookies during a late-night study session. But if overeating is a regular and uncontrollable habit, you may be suffering from binge eating disorder. Binge eaters use food to cope with stress and other negative emotions, but their compulsive overeating just makes them feel worse. The good news is that binge eating disorder is treatable. With professional help and support, you can learn to stop binge eating.

This eating disorder, also called binge eating disorder is characterized by an addiction to food. An individual suffering with compulsive overeating disorder has episodes of uncontrolled eating or binging, during which he or she may have a pressured, frenzied feeling. The person may continue to eat even after becoming uncomfortably full. The binge is typically followed by a period of intense guilt and/or depression. Unlike bulimics, those with compulsive overeating disorder typically do not purge themselves with vomiting, laxative use, or excessive exercise. Compulsive Eating Disorder Symptoms

As with other eating disorders (bulimia, anorexia), there is a significant psychological component to compulsive eating. Most sufferers use food as a way to hide from emotions, fill a void inside, and cope with daily stresses. Many people with compulsive eating disorder feel guilty for not being "good enough," shame for being overweight, and have low self esteem. They turn to food to cope with their painful feelings, which only leaves them feeling worse. Sufferers often have a constant need for love and validation, and without it, may go into obsessive episodes of overeating as a way to cope with pain.

Compulsive overeating is characterized by an addiction to food. An individual suffering from compulsive overeating disorder engages in frequent episodes of uncontrolled eating, or binging, during which they may feel frenzied or out of control, often consuming food past the point of being comfortably full. Binging in this way is generally followed by feelings of guilt and depression. Unlike individuals with bulimia, compulsive overeaters do not attempt to compensate for their binging with purging behaviors such as fasting, laxative use or vomiting. Compulsive overeaters will typically eat when they are not hungry, spend excessive amounts of time and thought devoted to food, and secretly plan or fantasize about eating alone. Compulsive overeating usually leads to weight gain and obesity, but not everyone who is obese is also a compulsive overeater. Compulsive Eating Disorder Treatment

Compulsive eating disorder is characterized by the uncontrollable urge to eat large amounts of food (especially unhealthy foods high in calories, fat and sugar) in a short period of time, leading to weight gain. It often is called binge-eating disorder and is referred to by some as food addiction. A typical binge may involve eating anywhere from 3,000 to 10,000 calories in less than 40 minutes. Unlike bulimics, compulsive overeaters do not attempt self-induced vomiting (or purging) after they have eaten. They usually are aware of their problem, but feel like it is out of their control.

Binge eating disorder - Binge eating disorder, often referred to as compulsive overeating or food addiction is when an individual is obsessed with thoughts relating to food as a means to cope with their feelings. People suffering from a binge eating disorder tend to binge on foods high in sugar and carbohydrates, which can lead to an array of medical and psychological consequences.

Compulsive overeating might be the most common eating disorder in the United States, where as many as 4 million adults struggle with the disorder. About 15 percent of the mildly obese who try to lose weight on their own or with commercial products have the disorder, and the rates are said to be higher among the severely obese. Although most people with this problem are overweight to obese, binge eating disorder is a little more common in women than in men. Three women for every two men have it. The disorder affects blacks as often as caucasians. No one knows how often it affects people in other ethnic groups.

Many people believe that eating disorders affect only women; this is simply not the case. While it is true that the majority of individuals who enter eating disorder treatment for bulimia and anorexia are women, these eating disorders are in no way limited to this gender. Many men suffer from bulimia anorexia and binge eating disorder, but few actually enter eating disorder treatment.

Binge eating, also know as compulsive overeating, is an eating disorder in which a person consumes large amounts of food up to the point of uncomfortable fullness, leaving feelings of guilt. People with this disorder are driven by compulsion to keep eating.

Compulsive overeating generally has a gradual beginning, often starting in early childhood when eating patterns are formed. It usually starts very subtly, when a child turns to food whenever they were upset. Over time, you learn that food in fact will soothe the upset feelings. The destructive pattern continues as you do not learn to trust that feelings pass and that you are capable of self-soothing without food.

Binge eating also occurs in another eating disorder called bulimia nervosa. Persons with bulimia nervosa, however, usually purge, fast, or do strenuous exercise after they binge eat. Purging means vomiting or using a lot of diuretics (water pills) or laxatives to keep from gaining weight. Fasting is not eating for at least 24 hours. Strenuous exercise, in this case, means exercising for more than an hour just to keep from gaining weight after binge eating. Purging, fasting, and overexercising are dangerous ways to try to control your weight.

Most people who suffer from compulsive overeating are overweight, although those with a normal weight can be affected at well. Many times people affected by compulsive eating disorder have been binge eaters since childhood and use food as a way of dealing with emotions.

Often those who have binge eating disorder suffer with the disorder for years, feel ashamed, depressed may feel very alone. It is important to recognize that you are not alone, there are millions like you and there are successful treatment options available for you.

About 2 percent of all adults in the United States (as many as 4 million Americans) have binge eating disorder. About 10 to 15 percent of people who are mildly obese and who try to lose weight on their own or through commercial weight-loss programs have binge eating disorder. The disorder is even more common in people who are severely obese.

Bulimia is an eating disorder characterized by bouts of extreme overeating (binging) followed by use of laxatives and self-induced vomiting (purging). Bulimia generally begins as an attempt to avoid weight gain, however the binge/purge cycle gets out of control and the individual finds herself unable to stop.

People who are obese and have binge eating disorder often became overweight at a younger age than those without the disorder. They might also lose and gain back weight (yo-yo diet) more often.

This information is provided by The Renfrew Center Foundation to provide helpful information regarding binge eating. The Renfrew Center Foundation is dedicated to supporting research, education, and advocacy in the field of binge eating treatment and research.

Binge eating is not caused by laziness, a lack of caring or solely by the mere love of food. Often times, at the root of compulsive eating there are deep psychological problems. Persons suffering from this disorder distract themselves from these painful emotions and instead overindulge themselves in a variety of foods causing new problems, instead of addressing the actual problems at hand.

Your compulsive eating may temporarily relieve unpleasant feelings, but your relief may be followed by feelings of guilt, shame and depression. You may constantly struggle and yet be unhappy with your weight. You try each new diet hoping that it can cure your emotional compulsion. You may lose some weight, but you will probably regain your lost weight.

Without proper compulsive overeating treatment, the disorder can lead to several medical complications including high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, and depression. Additional long-term side effects include kidney disease, arthritis, bone deterioration, and stroke.