Compulsive eating is characterized mainly by periods of impulsive bingeing or continuous eating. Purging (vomiting or laxatives) are not present, but there may be intervals of repetitive diets or fasts. Body weight can range from normal to severe obesity. Compulsive eating is a behavior driven by desire to reduce anxiety rather than by feelings of hunger. Obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors reduce anxiety and distress, but they create a self-perpetuating cycle. The eating activity provides temporary relief, but it is followed by further distress in the form of guilt, shame, and disgust. This often leads to a vicious cycle of binge eating and depression. Compulsive eating can be a behavior used to fill a void, suppress uncomfortable emotions, cope with problems or to create a state of numbness to everything that is going on. Triggers can be anxiety, depression, stress, boredom or loneliness, dieting, and low self-esteem.
Self-criticism will not stop the eating behavior. Diets make the problem worse. At first there may be some weight loss success, but with the hunger and restriction eventually comes a binge response. This overeating episode brings in feelings of failure and even more depression. Will power will not cure compulsive overeating. Creating rules around eating will not solve the problem. Compulsive overeating is a coping behavior that must be recognized as such and dealt with by learning and incorporating other behaviors which are at least as effective as eating.
SYMPTOMS OF COMPULSIVE EATING:
(This is not a complete list of signs and symptoms. Nor must a person have every symptom on the list to have compulsive eating behaviors.)
* Eating normally in front of others and compulsively overeating alone.
* Eating late at night or while others are asleep.
* Hiding a private stash of junk food.
* Unhappy with body weight.
* Always thinking about food.
* Eating to feel better.
* Not enjoying the food being eaten.
* Feeling out of control and unable to stop eating during binges.
* Continuing to eat even after feeling full.
* Becoming anxious while eating.
* A history of diet failures.
* Depression.
* Feels guilty and ashamed of binge eating.
* Worrying while eating.
* Eating frantically, barely chewing food.
* Hiding food.
* Eating secretly.
* Bingeing after a diet.
* Hunger creates a feeling of vulnerability and uneasiness.
If you recognize yourself as a compulsive eater - take heart! There is hope and there is healing. I believe that people with addictive eating behaviors are unique, creative, caring and sensitive individuals who need to find a connection back with their true inner spirit. Recovery occurs as an individual develops a sense of their own spirit and self and body, and a belief that their emotions are valid, important, and worth noticing.
Copyright 2005, Dr. Annette Colby, all rights reserved.
Dr. Annette Colby, RD
Nutrition Therapist & Master Energy Healer
972.985.8750
annette@annettecolby.com
"Opening Creative Portals to Success"
For free inspirational newsletter, articles & info visit: annette@annettecolby.com
Airbnb cleaning service Glenview ..Fifteen Secrets of Safe and Easy Permanent Weight Loss Revealed!*... Read More
Got milk? New research suggests you should if you want... Read More
Not everyone can handle hot food. But who said cayenne... Read More
Diners have become more health-conscious the last few years, and... Read More
I thought I could avoid this when we moved to... Read More
Not only was I fat, I was in poor health... Read More
From personal experience I have myself like all of you... Read More
When considering that pathological eating disorders and their related diseases... Read More
Fighting obesity has become one of the most important issues... Read More
There are many factors that cause us to increase body... Read More
A calorie is the unit used to measure the energy... Read More
Sometimes, just the thought of starting on a diet and... Read More
Oh, no . . . You suddenly realize that you... Read More
I just finished working my quads on a weight machine.... Read More
World Health Organization has observed that obesity has now reached... Read More
Over the last 30 years, research into food and blood... Read More
Yes and no. Moderate calorie restriction helps in controlling and... Read More
Whew! So how did you do on that last lesson?... Read More
When you have started a diet in the past, how... Read More
New gastric bypass patients say they miss food, they grieve... Read More
Frankie saddled up to the bar at the We-Stuff-Em-All Diner,... Read More
Sharing our bariatric stories is as personal decision as electing... Read More
Understanding the theory of adaptation (see previous article, Adaptation I)... Read More
You can overcome the desires of your sweet-tooth by incorporating... Read More
Reading labels is an essential part of any weight loss... Read More
efficient cleaning crew Highland Park ..Nitrates and nitrites are preservatives that are added to certain... Read More
Although many patients have few problems after bariatric surgery, there... Read More
With all of the conflicting studies and fuzzy interpretation of... Read More
Nowadays, so much of the public is obese (fat) that... Read More
"I am going to start a diet tomorrow". How many... Read More
When we hear all the success stories of the gastric... Read More
Are you one of the 90 million Americans who are... Read More
This is a layman marketer's observations on diets and weight... Read More
Hypertension is another name for high blood pressure. Blood pressure... Read More
Of all the possible exercises there are to help you... Read More
Used a diet pill recently and got depressed because you... Read More
The loss of fat comes from fat cells all over... Read More
Twenty years of health club consulting, 50,000 hours of paid... Read More
Taming the See Food Eat Food ResponseWhat happens when you're... Read More
A typical breakfast consists of 3 or 4 strips of... Read More
Recently, I was reading about a diet plan where you... Read More
In the medical community, "obesity" is generally said to be... Read More
I am embarrassed to admit how many different commercial weight... Read More
"The sovereign invigorator of the body is exercise, and of... Read More
AND SAVE MONEY IN THE PROCESS. The secret is simple... Read More
Are you or your family members amongst the 65%?To help... Read More
In order to lose weight, your body must burn more... Read More
Phentermine, like many other prescription drugs, works with chemicals called... Read More
Okay, so you've read some of these articles, done your... Read More
Many of enjoy sitting down at Starbucks and enjoying a... Read More
Weight Loss |