An eating disorder is a condition in which an individual eats, or avoids eating, in a manner which negatively affects both one's physical and mental health. They are thought to be behavioural patterns stemming from emotional conflicts that need to be resolved in order for the sufferer to develop a healthy relationship with food.
Eating disorders can range from mild mental anguish to life-threatening conditions, and can affect every aspect of an individual’s daily life. The most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa - deliberate and sustained weight loss via conscious abstinence from food - and bulimia nervosa - cyclical and recurring pattern of binge eating followed by guilt, self-recrimination and over-compensatory behavior such as crash dieting, over-exercising and vomiting to compensate for the excessive caloric intake. Together, they affect an estimated 5-7% of females in the United States during their lifetimes.
Worldwide however, there is a movement to recognize alternative eating disorders, which do not fall under these two clinically accepted categories (neither anorexia nor bulimia nervosa). This stems from the fact that 9 in 10 women in the United States claim they are unhappy with their body, and while not all of these women are anorexic or bulimic, they all display unhealthy or conflictive relationships with eating and food in general. Examples of alternative disorders are orthorexia (unhealthy obsession with healthy food and/or purity), selective eating (categorical exclusion of certain foods or food groups), and compulsive overeating (eating excessively to feed emotions). While many doctors believe that these conditions are simply lifestyle choices, “odd” or “bad” habits, all three have the potential to cause a high degree of anxiety and body hatred, restrictive or antisocial behavior, and negative physical symptoms (e.g. obesity, excessive thinness, bone deterioration, diabetes, sleep irregularity, digestion difficulties, etc.). Here, we will discuss compulsive overeating (also known as emotional, or binge eating).
What is compulsive overeating?
Compulsive eating is using food for reasons other than hunger or social events, and feeling unable to stop the behaviour. It is a response to a certain emotion (boredom, stress, anger, sadness, etc.). Someone with compulsive overeating disorder is addicted to eating food in large amounts, but unlike with bulimia, they do not purge. In short, food is used to feed feelings instead of a hungry stomach. Symptoms include:
- Eating excessive quantities of foods perceived as “forbidden”, when not physically hungry
- Eating until stuffed and uncomfortable, or grazing and never really finishing a meal
- Eating much more rapidly than normal
- Eating excessively one or various days, then healthily the next few days
- Feeling very self-conscious eating in front of others
- Eating alone due to shame and embarrassment of the quantities of food consumed (e.g. in the middle of the night)
- Secretly planning or fantasizing about eating alone
- Feeling ashamed, depressed or guilty after bingeing
- Being secretive about what was eaten
- 24-hour preoccupation with body weight
- Depression or mood swings
- Awareness that eating patterns are abnormal
- History of weight fluctuations
- Withdrawal from activities because of embarrassment about weight
- Eating little in public, but maintaining a high body weight
- Being unable to purge or compensate for the food eaten.
Side effects can include: difficulty sleeping at night, joint pain, muscle pains, menstrual problems, headaches, suicidal thoughts, struggle digesting, and a high level of stress. Left untreated, compulsive overeating can lead to serious medical conditions including cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, sleep apnea, and major depression. Emotional eaters can be overweight, “normal”, and even underweight, however all are significantly uncomfortable existing in their body.
Because compulsive eating is not yet clinically accepted, people suffering from the disorder often blame their weight on their binges and do not consider that there might be a psychological reason behind their binge eating. A very common misconception is that people who have the disorder do not know anything about healthy eating habits: however, one can be informed about nutrition and health, but still display the behavior.
It is estimated that 2 percent of all adults in the United States struggle with this disorder, and it is seen most in young adults. Many individuals fail to seek or receive appropriate intervention until middle age, remaining in the darkness of shame and secrecy.
How does eating distract from emotions?
· Eating produces a sense of fullness and increases blood sugar levels. Both reduce the physical agitation that comes with feelings of anger, distress, and anxiety and produces an experience of numbness in which all emotions, including depression and loneliness, are minimized.
· Eating to the point of physical discomfort distracts from emotional pain.
· Continuous eating also distracts from disturbing thoughts.
· Consuming foods that are enjoyable or that are associated with positive experiences brings pleasure, temporarily relieving depression.
· Certain foods raise endorphin levels (the “feel-good” brain chemical).
· High carbohydrate food facilitates the release of serotonin. Serotonin is the calming brain chemical. When the brain is using it, feelings of stress and tension are erased. This is why foods eaten out of emotion rather than hunger are frequently high carbohydrate (e.g. pasta, pizza, bread, pastries), since such foods increase serotonin.
The emotional relief from food is short-lived and is repeatedly followed by an extreme sense of guilt and disgust with one’s self. The more emotions build, the more likely the individual is to engage in the very same behavior that resulted in feelings of guilt. The person becomes addicted to the “ups” and “downs”.
Recovering from compulsive overeating
Approximately 80% of sufferers who seek professional help recover completely. Treatment programs that address only the depression will not be successful in breaking the cycle of compulsive overeating: treatment for both the clinical symptoms of depression, and the behavior of compulsive eating, is needed to successfully end this vicious cycle. The most effective weight loss programs combine diet, lifestyle change, nutritional education, exercise, and antidepressants (where appropriate).
Overeaters Anonymous, the global support group for those suffering from compulsive overeating disorder, has the saying: "when you are addicted to drugs you put the tiger in the cage to recover; when you are addicted to food you put the tiger in the cage, but take it out three times a day for a walk." If you think you may be suffering from compulsive overeating disorder, contact a professional immediately: you can learn to love food, and your body, without abusing either of them.
4 basic rules of “normal eating”:
1. Eating only when you are hungry or to facilitate social events.
2. Choose foods that satisfy you and don’t leave you “hanging”.
3. Eating with awareness and enjoyment.
4. Stop when full or satisfied.
