Who are at Risks?

Compulsive eating is one among the various eating disorders and a form of food addiction. Frequent periods of uncontrollable bingeing result in compulsive overeating. The pace at which they eat is rapid. Feelings of depression and guilt are high after food consumption. They are not on laxatives or enemas, but eat typically, when not hungry.

All obese people are not compulsive eaters, but compulsive eating mostly results in weight increase. When the primary technique of compulsive overeating is through bingeing, it is referred to as binge eating disorder and these eating disorders are common in teenagers.

Lack of bingeing and rapid overeating is compulsive overeating. It is more commonly seen in females. They also experience a grazing behavior, wherein, they return many a times to pick up the same food. This results in a calorific rise, irrespective of the quantity. Delayed treatments result in conditions, such as, cardiac disease, hypercholesterolemia, depression, diabetes and hypertension. Side effects staying for a long time are arthritis, degeneration of bone, stroke and renal issues. The pangs of hunger do not set in, in compulsive overeaters.

Compulsive overeaters have a low self esteem. They lack respect and love for themselves. They eat in private, to avoid the embarrassment. They are preoccupied with the thoughts of weight loss, but contradictorily gain some. Mood swings, weight vacillation, knowledge of the improper eating pattern, social withdrawal, isolation, secretive eating behavior, breathlessness, loss of sexual desire, concept of friendship with food, history of failed diets, joint pain, perspiration and weight gain are the signs of a compulsive overeater. They are highly obese, though their intake in public is less. In course of time, compulsive overeaters, develop a fear of controlling their eating.

Media and women being thin is analogous to the fact, that these compulsive eaters have a feeling of inferiority, as thin women are more preferred by men. This is also an underlying cause for compulsive overeating. They make self defeating statements, after food, as a result of their guilt. They hide food in a number of places, like cupboards, beds and suitcases. They blame the society for their not attending to the problem. Fatigue and poor sleeping habits result in insomnia. Opting for promiscuous relations is seen to occur in compulsive eaters, as a result of sexual desire. Depression is a common offspring of eating disorders and calls for immediate physical, physiological and psychological treatment.

Intervention requires a team of experts comprising of a psychotherapist, a physician and a dietitian. Combating depression is the greatest ordeal and anti depressants prove beneficial. Overcoming the feeling of void ness in life is necessary, as food remains their sole companion. The presence of a loving and cooperative kith and kin can be a hindrance in treatment, as these eaters fail to feel the necessity of losing weight, as they are accepted by everybody, irrespective of their weight.

Submitted on January 16, 2014