Everyone eats too much sometimes. After all, what point would Thanksgiving be if we didn’t gorge ourselves? At what point does an occasional indulgence become a real problem? Compulsive overeating is when you eat for reasons other than hunger and after the point of feeling full. People with this eating disorder are often overweight and are often aware that their eating habits are abnormal.
It could be you?
Overeaters Anonymous offers this partial list for those who may have a binge eating problem. The Side Effects of Overeating are serious. If you answered yes to some of these questions, you may want to consider taking a closer look.
Do you eat when you are not hungry?
Do you keep overeating for no apparent reason?
Do you feel guilty and remorse after overeating?
Do you spend too much time and attention on food?
Do you look forward to the time when you can eat alone?
Do you plan these secret binges in advance?
Do you eat sensibly for others and make up for it on your own?
Do you hide your food?
Have you tried dieting for a week (or longer) but didn’t reach your goal?
What is the trigger?
Depression is a hypothesis for why people binge eat. But no one knows for sure if depression comes first and leads to bingeing or vice versa. However, it is more common for people with the disorder to behave impulsively and have other emotional problems. In any case, professional help with or without medication is usually indicated.
