Compulsive Overeating

Compulsive overeating is characterized by uncontrollable eating and consequent weight gain.

Reasons for compulsive overeating are similar to the ones for binge eating disorder - daily stress and problems, emotional conflicts. People use food as a desperate effort to block out emotions and feelings that distress them.

Although compulsive overeaters can not control themselves sometimes, they are aware of their abnormal eating patterns and do realize that they have a problem.

Some symptoms of compulsive overeating:

• weight gain
• binge eating
• going on many different diets
• eating little in public while maintaining a high weight
• social and professional failures attributed to weight
• depression

These symptoms can lead to more serious medical complications like:

• hypertension or fatigue
• sleep depravation
• high cholesterol levels
• sciatica
• embolism
• varicose veins

Compulsive overeaters should be treated for the specific problem they have, instead of being directed to a diet center. A proper compulsive overeating treatment includes therapy, medical and nutritional counseling in order to overcome the specific problem.