Eating Disorder About Recovery From Compulsive Overeating

October 25th, 2008 by admin

Compulsive overeating is treatable with counseling and therapy. Approximately 80% of sufferers who
seek professional help recover completely or experience significant reduction in their symptoms.

Many eating disorders are thought to be behavioral patterns stemming from emotional conflicts that
need to be resolved in order for the sufferer to develop a healthy relationship with food.

Like other eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia, compulsive overeating is a serious problem
and can result in death. However, with treatment, which should include talk therapy, medical and
nutritional counseling, it can be overcome.

An eating disorder is a compulsion to eat, or avoid eating, that negatively affects both one’s physical and mental health. Eating disorders are all encompassing. They affect every part of the person’s life.

According to the authors of Surviving an Eating Disorder, “feelings about work, school, relationships, day-to-day activities and one’s experience of emotional well being are determined by what has or has not been eaten or by a number on a scale.”

Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are the most common eating disorders generally recognized by
medical classification schemes, with a significant diagnostic overlap between the two. Together,
they affect an estimated 5-7% of females in the United States during their lifetimes. There is a
third type of eating disorder currently being investigated and defined – Binge Eating Disorder.

This is a chronic condition that occurs when an individual consumes huge amounts of food during a
brief period of time and feels totally out of control and unable to stop their eating. It can lead
to serious health conditions such as morbid obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular
disease.

Addiction Awarness About Who Is At Risk?

Many people believe that eating disorders occur only among young white females, but this is not the
case. While eating disorders do mainly affect women between the ages of 12 and 35, other groups are
also at risk of developing eating disorders. Eating disorders affect all ethnic and racial groups
and while the specific nature of the problem and the risk factors may vary, no population is exempt.

Younger and younger children seem to be at risk of developing eating disorders. While most children
who develop eating disorders are between 11 and 13, studies have shown that 80% of 3rd through 6th
graders are dissatisfied with their bodies or their weight and by age 9 somewhere between 30 and 40%
of girls have already been on a diet.

Between ages 10 and 16, the statistic jumps to 80%. Many eating disorder experts attribute this
behavior to the effects of cultural expectations. Stress is also considered to be a factor in the
development of eating disorders. According to Abigail Natenshon, a psychotherapist specializing in
eating disorders, children as young as 5 show signs of stress related eating disorders.

This includes compulsively exercising and running to burn off calories. Natanshon notes that as
children reach puberty younger and younger, they are less equipped to understand the changes in
their bodies. They understand the message of the media to be “thin” and try to fit in without
comprehending the effects on their bodies.

While eating disorders affect younger and younger children, not only girls but also boys suffer from
eating disorders. Boys who participate in sports where weight is an issue and often boys who
experience issues regarding sexual identity are at risk of developing eating disorders.