Compulsive overeating, also sometimes called food addiction, is characterized by an obsessive/compulsive relationship to food. Professionals address this with either a behavior-modification model or a food-addiction model. An individual suffering from compulsive overeating disorder engages in frequent episodes of uncontrolled eating, or binge eating,during which they may feel frenzied or out of control, often consumingfood past the point of being comfortably full. Binging in this way isgenerally followed by feelings of guilt and depression. Unlikeindividuals with bulimia,compulsive overeaters do not attempt to compensate for their bingingwith purging behaviors such as fasting, laxative use or vomiting.Compulsive overeaters will typically eat when they are not hungry. Theirobsession is demonstrated in that they spend excessive amounts of timeand thought devoted to food, and secretly plan or fantasize about eatingalone. Compulsive overeating usually leads to weight gain and obesity, but not everyone who is obese is also a compulsive overeater. While compulsive overeaters tend to be overweight or obese, persons of normal or average weight can also be affected.
In addition to binge eating, compulsive overeaters can also engage ingrazing behavior, during which they return to pick at food throughoutthe day. These things result in a large overall number of caloriesconsumed even if the quantities eaten at any one time may be small. Whena compulsive eater overeats primarily through binging, he or she can besaid to have binge eating disorder.
Left untreated, compulsive overeating can lead to serious medical conditions including high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, sleep apnea, and major depression. Additional long-term side effects of the condition also include kidney disease, arthritis, bone deterioration and stroke.
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