Among mental disorders, eating disorders occupy a special place. Many people know about the dangers of diseases such as bulimia and anorexia, but experts rarely talk about compulsive overeating. However, this type of disorder occurs quite often in both women and men of different ages.
What is compulsive overeating? This term refers to excessive consumption of food, which is popularly called gluttony. But the reason for this behavior is not a lack of willpower, natural laziness or a person’s temperament. Psychological factors underlie overeating. That is why the problem can only be dealt with with the help of an experienced psychotherapist specializing in the correction of eating behavior.
Features of the disease
There have been times in every person's life when he ate more food than necessary. The result of such overeating: heaviness and discomfort in the stomach. But such situations happen extremely rarely, and, as a rule, during festive feasts. For a person with a psychological disorder, the process of eating almost never ends. With compulsive overeating, the patient may go on a diet at some point, but this only leads to another breakdown and even greater gluttony.
The main difference between this type of eating disorder and bulimia is that the person does not try to get rid of what he has eaten artificially (by inducing vomiting), although the feeling of shame torments him quite strongly. However, the amount of food eaten at one time should be really large. The fact is that often people suffering from eating disorders believe that they eat a lot, but the amount of food they consume does not exceed the norm. In this case, we can talk about other types of pathology.
People around you may not always understand that the person next to you has an eating disorder. The patient eats a lot only when he is alone; he can store food for future use, so that later he can indulge in gluttony.
Often the body weight of a person suffering from compulsive overeating disorder is normal. The first signs of obesity appear some time after the onset of the disease.
You can judge the presence of psychological problems by the following symptoms:
- food is consumed in quantities significantly exceeding the norm (the amount of food sufficient to satisfy the hunger of an average adult);
- the time between meals is short - it rarely reaches 2 hours;
- a person eats greedily and very quickly, from the outside it may seem that he is experiencing extreme hunger;
- the patient does not eat because he is hungry. Often the reason for the next meal is stress, a feeling of loneliness or another emotional reason;
- with compulsive overeating, a person realizes that he is unable to control his appetite and stop;
- the process of food absorption often stops only when pain appears in the stomach;
- After another bout of gluttony, a person experiences a feeling of guilt. He is upset and unhappy to the point that he may become depressed, which leads to another binge eating episode.
If the symptoms described above are present for a sufficiently long time, at least 3 months, then this may indicate the presence of serious eating disorders. You won’t be able to cope with this problem on your own with the help of diets; to achieve lasting results, you need to undergo a course of special psychotherapy.
Why is it important to overload your brain for weight loss?
Psychology does not accept concessions: whatever one may say, without rebooting the brain, all attempts to lose weight will be futile or will only bring temporary weight correction. And by teaching the brain to think differently, it will be possible to reflash the subconscious, which will instantly pull up the corresponding conscious actions.
It's like a computer program, by installing which you achieve certain goals. Of course, before rebooting the brain, it is necessary to determine exactly what subconscious attitudes are preventing you from losing weight, what needs to be worked out and changed.
If the problem of excess weight lies in low self-esteem, self-acceptance, dislike of your body (excess pounds act as a punishment and another proof of your insignificance), then you need to work on increasing your self-worth and learning to love yourself.
If fat deposits are a person’s psychological armor, protecting him from a hostile world, then it is necessary to remove conflicts and help a person make friends with the reality around him. When a big belly is perceived as a guarantee of solidity and success, then you will have to work on self-esteem and change perception stereotypes.
Sometimes, in order to lose weight, you have to eradicate infantilism, learn to understand the nature of your actions, get rid of excessive anxiety, fight fears and stereotypical patterns of behavior, and get out of your cocoon, no matter how difficult it may be.
Causes of compulsive overeating
No one can name the exact cause of the development of eating disorders. Today there is an opinion that the disorder occurs as a response of the body to a stressful situation. The following factors can give impetus to the onset of psychogenic overeating:
- Uncontrollable hunger can be caused by problems with the hypothalamus. This part of the brain is responsible for the feeling of fullness - when it stops sending signals, a person experiences constant hunger. Among other biological causes of overeating, experts call a decrease in serotonin levels.
- Often the reasons for overeating are the characteristics of the cultural and social environment. From birth, the child gets used to the idea that food can serve as a reward. Or the norms accepted in society can lead to the development of nervous disorders in people who do not comply with them. A compulsive eater feels his inadequacy, and against this background he develops secondary depression, leading to another attack of gluttony.
- Overeating can also have psychological reasons. The relationship between uncontrolled eating and depression has been identified by researchers for quite some time. People with low self-esteem, suffering from loneliness and misunderstanding are prone to gluttony.
In addition, it was noted that the tendency to psychogenic overeating may be hereditary.
Starting a new life: setting a goal
Think about what do you want? Basically, the desire to regain slimness is caused by:
- dreams of attractiveness and the return of a lost sense of lightness;
- awareness that losing weight is simply necessary to maintain health and beauty;
- problems arising from excess weight - diabetes, varicose veins, gastrointestinal disorders, shortness of breath, cardiac dysfunction, etc.
Think about your health before it deteriorates completely, become irresistible in the eyes of others and love yourself - this is why it is vitally important to motivate yourself to lose weight and completely transform your lifestyle. This is especially true for those who constantly hear from friends: “You’ve gained so much weight!” He also buys new oversized things because his favorite dresses and blouses have become too small, he is forced to be ashamed of his body and constantly go to the doctors because of his deteriorating health. Allow yourself to open a new page in your life - start the path to slimness with the right steps!
What are the dangers of psychogenic overeating?
Some people may think that gluttony is not the worst psychological disorder. But problems with excess weight, which arise as a result of eating a huge amount of varied food, is the most harmless consequence of this pathology. A sick person is more often than others in a state of depression; he is constantly tormented by feelings of anxiety, worry and fear. In some cases, people resort to alcohol or drugs in an attempt to cope with binge eating, but this only makes the situation worse.
Obesity can also lead to physical health problems. Most often, obese people suffer from diabetes; their risk of cancer is several times higher, their heart rhythm is disturbed and hypertension develops. Other problems include joint diseases, snoring, thyroid pathologies, and various diseases of the digestive and intestinal organs.
Diets
There are popular diets on the Internet with reviews about their mythical effectiveness. Vegetable or fruit diets quickly lead to exhaustion of the body, lack of protein and complex carbohydrates in the tissues. The rapid loss of extra pounds is noticeable, the body receives serious stress, begins to activate its resources, but it is not enough for a long time. As a result, general malaise appears, performance decreases, organs and even their systems begin to fail. Yes, the result is a short-term effect, after which real disappointment sets in. Introducing a normal diet after a strict two-week diet forces the body to work in reverse.
Exodus
The kilograms quickly return, excess fat is gained, and the desire to lose weight in such a difficult way disappears.
Recognizing overeating due to psychogenic causes
Diagnosis, as well as treatment of this type of eating disorder, requires the participation of several specialists. The examination is carried out on both psychological and somatic profiles. Doctors will conduct a general examination of the patient and study his entire medical history. Predisposing factors are identified, such as stress, hormonal imbalances, psychogenic disorders, and a period of prolonged fasting (voluntary or forced).
Instrumental studies are also needed. In the laboratory, cholesterol levels and blood sugar levels are determined, and gastric secretion is examined. Using special equipment, the stomach, intestines and other organs involved in the process of digesting food are examined.
The diagnosis will be made if there are persistent symptoms of overeating and other types of diseases that can lead to loss of appetite control are excluded.
The effectiveness of bariatric surgery
Bariatric surgery today is the most effective way to lose extra pounds with a body mass index over 30. Weight loss is observed within 1-2 years. The operation helps people who cannot limit themselves in food and exercise for a long time in the gym to find a new life.
A positive result after surgery is observed in everyone without exception. The fear of eating disorders disappears, people become more confident in their abilities and get rid of their complexes. The effectiveness of weight loss depends not only on the operation, but also on the patient. After surgery, you must strictly adhere to all doctor's recommendations. Ideally, take vitamin supplements and follow a diet, eating only healthy foods. To stay fit, exercise regularly.
Surgical intervention helps not only to lose weight, but also to restore health: metabolism improves, blood pressure and blood sugar levels are normalized.
Therapy
If a patient has been diagnosed with psychogenic overeating, then drug treatment is unlikely to help. Some medications may be prescribed to relieve symptoms or treat concomitant diseases, but to eliminate the underlying problem, it is necessary to use various methods of psychocorrection.
Treatment for such a psychological disorder is quite long. Some patients achieved success within a year of working with a psychotherapist, others needed more time.
The main task of specialists treating compulsive overeating disorder is to convey to the patient the idea that food can become an assistant in the process of getting rid of the pathology. To solve the problem, you do not need to completely give up food. You should learn to control your daily diet; it should be based on nutritious and healthy foods.
Among the methods of psychotherapy in the treatment of eating disorders, the most effective are cognitive and behavioral psychotherapy, as well as suggestion and hypnosis. However, this should be done by an experienced doctor specializing in the treatment of psychogenic overeating, since this type of disorder often goes unnoticed by doctors of other specializations.
Often people suffering from compulsive overeating are offered gastric reduction surgery. But in cases where gluttony is caused by psychological reasons, the effect of resection will be minimal, since the patient is not able to control the attacks.
Reviews
Reviews from those who were able to motivate themselves and lost weight:
Alexandrova Anastasia
Nutrition and healthy lifestyle specialist and author of myfitnesblog.com. For many years, she has successfully helped women and men lose weight and maintain a beautiful figure.
How to deal with the problem yourself
If the disorder is in the early stages of development, you can try to overcome it yourself. This will be the first step on the road to recovery. If alarming symptoms appear, you should:
- ask for help. This is not about visiting a psychotherapist. Tell a loved one about your problem. In some cases, speaking out about a problem allows you to find ways out of it. In addition, the support of loved ones gives us strength and confidence in success, relieves us of feelings of insecurity and loneliness;
- Don't stigmatize yourself. The negative labels that sick people place on themselves interfere with recovery. Even if you eat too much food, you do not become bad. Overeating is not a crime, but a disease that requires treatment;
- There is no need to classify all foods as good or bad. It is important to understand that you can eat everything, but in small quantities. If you adhere to this rule, then you can allow yourself some French fries or a piece of cream cake;
- try to pause while eating. Take a break and evaluate your feelings. If a person uses food as a sedative, he may miss the satiety signal sent from the brain;
- change habits or environment. What surrounds us has a great influence on our lifestyle and food culture. A compulsive eater should try to eat in company as often as possible. Go to a cafe or invite friends over;
- give yourself the right to be weak. Many people who suffer from gluttony and excess weight make a list of prohibited foods. This should not be done, because it is unlikely that you will be able to cope with the temptation. And after a while of abstinence, you will again indulge in gluttony. If you want something, then eat it now, but just a little. In this case, there will be no feeling of guilt, which is the key trigger for compulsive overeating;
- a person suffering from this psychogenic disorder can have only one prohibition - dieting. It is necessary to forget about dietary restrictions once and for all, since they only lead to additional stress. It would be better to create a balanced diet. If you can’t do this on your own, you can seek help from a nutritionist.
These methods of getting rid of eating disorders are quite effective. But only in rare cases can sick people cope with bouts of gluttony on their own. In severe forms of the disorder, the help of specialists is simply necessary. Only with a combination of psychotherapy and self-control can sustainable results be achieved.
To stop drinking, you need to create conditions for yourself
The conditions that must be met to stop drinking are not that complicated. Most of them are normal components of a fulfilling life.
- The decision to give up alcohol should be communicated to family and friends. This will ensure their cooperation and help avoid awkward situations of sudden visits with a bottle of strong drink;
- In the first weeks of sobriety, you will have to literally avoid alcohol. He shouldn't be at home. It is better to avoid attending events and parties for now. The temptation is too great. A person cannot control the brain’s persistent reaction to the type of alcohol. There is no need to expose yourself to additional stress. If the situation requires indispensable participation in the feast, you can compromise. There is always a plausible excuse to raise a glass of juice or mineral water with everyone else. You cannot sit with an empty glass and attract attention. Internal tension will increase;
- Full sleep. A person who does not get enough sleep is prone to irritability or apathy; these are not normal states from which you want to get out. What solution comes to mind first? That's right, improve your health in a known way;
- Complete nutrition. The feeling of hunger is a strong provocateur, as it causes anxiety and dissatisfaction. A well-fed person is relaxed and satisfied, everything suits him, his thoughts are calm. Satisfying basic needs is the key to success when quitting alcohol;
- Encouragement. It is necessary to plan moral compensation for abstinence in order to feel that a sober lifestyle can be enjoyable. It doesn’t matter what it will be, entertainment, adventure, a long-awaited purchase with saved money, the main thing is that it evokes positive emotions;
- There should be no free time. Idleness is the source of vices, as was noted by the ancient Romans. It is necessary to fill weekdays and holidays with activities and events so that the busy pace of life leaves no room for idleness. You can make a plan;
- Find an alternative to alcohol to relax. The body must relieve tension. At first, the effect will seem weak because the brain is accustomed to heavy doses of doping. Reading fiction, listening to slow, quiet music, yoga, meditation, handicrafts, and hard work calm the nervous system well. Over time, their impact will intensify, freeing the body and soul from fatigue and irritation;
- Physical activity is a panacea for many negative factors and is good for health. When engaging in sports or physical labor, a person not only receives the necessary exercise for vigor, but also experiences pleasure. It has been proven that physical activity stimulates the production of happiness hormones; Life without alcohol will itself encourage you to increase healthy habits and self-improvement.
Author of the article: Yurov Alexey Viktorovich
- An expert on addiction and codependency with 15 years of experience;
- Founder of the Otkritie Center;
- An expert in the rehabilitation of alcoholics, drug addicts and gambling addicts with 15 years of experience;
- Author and developer of several programs for rehabilitation, prevention, and psychological assistance to relatives of addicts;
- Husband, father, social activist;
- Helped hundreds of families of codependents save the health and lives of their relatives;
- More than 1000 people have undergone the rehabilitation of Alexey Yurov;
- Founder of the online School “Overcoming Codependency”;
- Founder of the Social Rehabilitation Center for the low-income population, including teenagers from disadvantaged families;
- 1.6 million views of educational lectures on the Youtube Channel;
- More than 1000 Individual Consultations;
- Over 100 trained Addiction Counselors;
Consider the best options for stress relief
Losing weight is always a certain stress for the body, especially considering the fact that for many people food is a favorite option for relieving accumulated nervous tension, and it’s not for nothing that the expression “eating stress” exists! However, when losing weight, “eating stress” is definitely extremely undesirable, and therefore you will have to try to choose for yourself other, much more appropriate options for getting rid of stress in this case. And it’s best to think through them in advance, even before you start losing weight, and not just think through them, but also try them out in action, and also understand that they really work!
For some, the best method of relieving stress may be knitting, for others - cross-stitching, and for others - meditation or leisurely walks in the park. In this matter, everything is very individual, so there can be no unambiguous advice and recommendations here!
Motivation for proper nutrition: losing weight without harm
An effective fight against extra pounds does not mean constant deprivation and categorical restrictions up to and including starvation, but a transition to a healthy, balanced diet and regular meals. You cannot skip breakfast, lunch and dinner - think for yourself, do you want your body to suffer from exhaustion and slowdown of metabolic processes? Then give him the necessary energy every day, watching the calorie content of his meals and adhering to the instructions of specialists.
Give up the words “I can’t” - eating right and losing weight with pleasure is very simple. The main thing is to give up comfort food and the only meaning of life. You can overcome your addiction to everything high-calorie and harmful, and you have the power to start the path to slimness right now!
