Managing Compulsive Eating Disorders: Strategies for Recovery

Compulsive eating disorders are complex mental health conditions that are characterized by the urge to eat large amounts of food, often in a short period, regardless of hunger or nutritional needs. This compulsive over-eating behavior is called binge eating and may be driven by emotional or psychological factors. Over time, it can become routine and may be difficult to control, which can impact the individual’s physical health, emotional well-being, and overall quality of life.

Understanding compulsive eating disorders

Individuals with a compulsive eating disorder may regularly overeat, or binge eat, as a way of managing emotions. These eating habits are different from occasional overeating and may occur once a week or more over many months. This pattern of eating may cause a person to feel shameful or guilty after binging. 

The causes of a compulsive eating disorder or binge eating disorder vary and may include genetic predispositions, environmental factors, and psychological factors. For instance, a person may be more likely to develop disordered eating patterns if they have a family history of eating disorders. This could be due to a genetic link as well as family patterns of eating or views on food and body image. Psychological factors that may increase the rate of developing binge eating disorder may include stress and depression, both of which may trigger binge eating.   

Types of compulsive eating disorders

While all compulsive eating disorders involve overeating or eating when you are not hungry, there are important distinctions between different types of compulsive overeating. Treatment options and diagnosis may vary based on the underlying disorder. Some common types of compulsive eating disorders include binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, night eating syndrome, and compulsive overeating.   

Binge eating disorder

As with each compulsive eating disorder, binge eating disorder (BED) involves consuming a large amount of food in a short amount of time regardless of hunger or nutritional needs. Individuals with BED may eat as a response to difficult emotions such as stress, anxiety, or depression. Unlike some other eating disorders, people living with BED do not feel the need to purge or compensate for overeating, which may cause weight gain. 

Bulimia nervosa

Like binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa involves eating a large amount of food as an emotional response. However, individuals with bulimia feel the need to purge their food after eating. This could take the form of vomiting, engaging in excessive exercise, or taking laxatives to avoid gaining weight. Individuals experiencing bulimia may not experience weight gain or loss due to purging behaviors. 

Night eating syndrome

Night eating syndrome (NES) is an eating disorder characterized by a pattern of consuming a significant portion of daily calories during the night, often after the evening meal or waking up during the night to eat. Individuals living with NES may feel little to no appetite during the day but experience strong cravings for food in the evening or nighttime hours. Unlike binge eating disorder, NES involves smaller amounts of food consumed over time rather than large, singular episodes.  

Compulsive overeating

Compulsive overeating is an eating disorder where individuals frequently consume excessive amounts of food, often beyond the point of fullness, in response to emotions such as stress, anxiety, or sadness. Unlike with binge eating, compulsive overeating may occur more consistently throughout the day rather than in isolated episodes, with people eating large quantities even when not hungry. 

What are the signs and symptoms of a compulsive eating disorder?

Signs and symptoms of a compulsive eating disorder may vary based on the disorder and the individual experiencing it. These symptoms and signs may also vary in severity and can impact some more than others. Symptoms and indicators of compulsive eating may include physical signs, emotional or psychological symptoms, and behavioral changes. 

Physical signs and symptoms of a compulsive eating disorder

Depending on the disorder, a person may or may not show physical signs or symptoms. For individuals living with binge eating disorder, night eating syndrome, or compulsive overeating, weight gain may be common. Weight gain may then lead to other physical conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, joint pain, and high blood pressure. 

People living with bulimia nervosa may experience additional gastrointestinal challenges such as constipation or diarrhea. If a person living with bulimia purges through vomiting, it’s also possible for them to experience an increase in dental decay as well as a sore or inflamed throat due to stomach acid. Fatigue or exhaustion may be present as well due to a lack of calories. 

Emotional and psychological symptoms

Individuals with a compulsive eating disorder may show signs of emotional or psychological symptoms as well. These may include feelings of guilt, shame, or distress after eating, especially after a binge. They may also feel stress or anxiety around their body’s physical changes that may be occurring due to compulsive overeating. It’s also possible for a person who is living with a compulsive eating disorder to feel preoccupied with food or body weight. 

Behavioral signs of compulsive eating disorders

Due to feelings of shame or guilt, some people with compulsive eating disorders may eat alone or in secret.They may also regularly eat a large amount of food, even after noticing that they’re not hungry anymore. Compulsive eating disorder may often involve a lack of control, with a person frequently feeling like they can’t stop eating. 

Potential impacts of compulsive overeating

Compulsive overeating can impact a person’s physical health, mental health, and social well-being. Physically, people with a compulsive overeating disorder may be at a higher risk of obesity. The large intake of calories on a routine basis may lead to weight gain, which can make it more challenging to exercise and may increase the risk of developing other health concerns. The physical strain from these health complications can lead to reduced mobility, fatigue, and lower energy levels, making daily activities more challenging.

Compulsive overeating may also impact a person’s mental health and social well-being. A person who eats compulsively may have added stress and anxiety, which can lead to depression. They may withdraw from social interactions or avoid socializing, especially when food is present. 

Strategies for managing compulsive overeating

Eating disorders are diagnosable mental illnesses that typically require treatment—which often takes the form of therapy in combination with medical care or the support of a nutritionist—to address. For those noticing signs of compulsive overeating or other disordered eating behaviors in themselves, seeking professional support as soon as possible can be important, as early intervention may improve long-term outcomes.

In addition to working with a professional, there are strategies that may help a person prevent or reduce the compulsion to overeat. These may include: 

• Nutritional counseling. A registered dietitian can help a person create a balanced eating plan, address nutritional deficiencies, and develop healthier eating habits.
• Mindful eating. Practicing mindful eating involves paying attention to hunger cues, savoring each bite, and eating without distractions. This can help build a healthier relationship with food.
• Building routines. Creating regular eating patterns and meal schedules can reduce the temptation to eat compulsively. It may be beneficial to avoid skipping meals, which can lead to overeating later.
• Emotional regulation. Finding healthy ways to manage stress, anxiety, and other strong emotions can be key to limiting the desire to eat as a way of coping. Examples of helpful skills may include mindfulness practices, journaling, and relaxation techniques. 
• Support groups. Working with a group of individuals who are also living with compulsive eating disorders may help to build community and provide additional accountability. 
• Therapy. Working with a mental health professional, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist, can help address underlying emotional issues and develop coping strategies. A therapist may also formally diagnose binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, or another eating disorder, which can be a first step in getting longer-term support. 

Treating binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, and other compulsive eating disorders 

Treating a compulsive eating disorder often involves a multifaceted approach that typically includes therapy to develop coping skills, nutritional support from a registered professional, and, in some cases, prescription medication as well. Coping skills may include identifying emotions or situations that commonly trigger the compulsive behaviors and methods for reducing these behaviors when such emotions or situations do arise. Examples of techniques include mindful breathing, journaling, or meditative techniques.

Never start, stop, or change any medications without consulting your physician first. 

Seeking professional support 

Again, for individuals living with an eating disorder, working with a licensed mental health professional or therapist is usually a key component of treatment. A therapist can work with you to develop strategies and techniques for reducing symptoms and improving mental health. 

If you’re not able to regularly travel to and from in-person appointments or would simply prefer to engage in therapy from the comfort of home, you might consider online therapy. While it’s not right in every situation, such as when inpatient care for acute symptoms is needed, virtual talk therapy can be a helpful and convenient form of support in many cases. Research suggests that, in many cases, online therapy can provide similar long-term benefits to in-person therapy for individuals with eating disorders.