Compulsive overeating – causes, consequences, methods of treatment

Eating disorders affect about 10% of the population. Some diseases, such as anorexia, and bulimia, are known and discussed by scientists and physicians worldwide. Others, such as compulsive or psychogenic overeating, remain little known and therefore are often not perceived as a dangerous diseases. However, compulsive overeating is a mental disorder that requires treatment.

What is binge eating?

Compulsive or psychogenic binge eating is also known as binge eating disorder, binge eating disorder, and hyperphagic stress response. All of these synonyms describe an eating disorder in which a person eats a lot, which causes overweight. As a rule, compulsive overeating is a defensive reaction to various stressors. A feature of the disorder is the absence of real hunger, and food is necessary to drown out emotions.

Unlike bulimia, episodes of exacerbation do not end with vomiting. The disease affects about 2-5% of the population, while 75% of patients are women and adolescents.

Causes of the problem

Psychogenic overeating is associated with internal and external factors. It is impossible to name a reliable cause of the disorder, but it is known that one or more of the following reasons can become a trigger:

• Genetic predisposition, namely the presence of close relatives with a history of obesity or any eating disorder;
• Acute or chronic stress (problems at work, school, frequent conflicts in the family, friends);
• Uncontrolled hunger, following strict diets for an extended period;
• Dissatisfaction with one’s own body;
• Emotional instability;
• The presence of endocrine diseases, obesity;
• Depressive disorders;
• Postoperative recovery.

Symptoms of the disorder

The severity of the clinical picture depends on the severity of the disease, provoking factors, and other situational circumstances. The characteristic signs of compulsive overeating are:

• Eating large amounts of food in a short period;
• There is a relationship between gluttony with stress factors;
• Loss of control over the frequency of food, the way it is consumed;
• Craving for food in the absence of physiological hunger;
• A person prefers “harmful,” unhealthy food or drinks, and sometimes the taste does not matter;
• Eating alone at night is associated with the presence of a sense of shame;
• The appearance of a feeling of self-hatred after each meal;
• Lack of a sober perception of one’s body, oneself as a person;
• After attacks, a person can go on diets, but breakdowns quickly accompany them.

Effects

Most perceive psychogenic overeating as a harmless addiction to food. However, the disorder, as it progresses, leads to the formation of mental and physical health problems. The patient constantly experiences a feeling of anxiety, fear, and anxiety; this causes the development of panic attacks, persecution mania, depressive disorders, anxiety-phobic disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Often, the patient begins to struggle with a severe psycho-emotional state with the help of alcoholic beverages and drugs. This leads to the formation of another severe addiction. Against this background, thoughts of suicide may also appear.

Overeating also negatively affects physical health. Excess body weight, which is inevitable when overeating, causes complications:

• cardiovascular diseases: hypertension, atherosclerosis, heart attack, stroke, coronary heart disease;
• diabetes mellitus, other endocrine pathologies;
• sleep problems;
• cessation of breathing during sleep;
• alveolar hypoventilation;
• destruction of bone and muscle tissue against the background of overweight, malnutrition, and insufficient physical activity;
• diseases of the stomach and intestines;
• Fertility inhibition, impotence, menstrual irregularities, infertility.

Rarely, malnutrition, a gradual violation of the efficiency of internal organs, can lead to multiple organ failures, disability, and death.

People suffering from psychogenic overeating should remember that food is a means to satisfy hunger, not emotions.

Treatment

The manifestation of bouts of overeating 2-4 times a week for three or more months suggests that a person suffers from a compulsive disorder. A psychiatrist, psychologist, and somatic specialists diagnose and treat the disease. Clinical blood tests, gastric juice, and instrumental studies of the endocrine, digestive, cardiovascular and respiratory systems are mandatory during the diagnosis. A complete diagnosis allows you to assess the patient’s condition, recognize complications promptly, and take measures to eliminate them.

Therapy in the hospital

Treatment of eating disorders is carried out individually based on the patient’s condition and the severity of the disease. The most effective is psychotherapy, namely cognitive-behavioral therapy. Work with the patient is carried out with the help of group and individual training. In the course of classes, it is possible to find the cause of pathological food cravings, assess the psycho-emotional state, cope with existing internal conflicts, restore faith in oneself, find goals in life and learn to evaluate oneself and food realistically.

In a severe form of the disorder, the patient, along with psychotherapy, is shown medication, namely antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, tranquilizers, and antidepressants. These drugs help cope with the formed mental disorders, unreasonable fear, and anxiety and normalize the psycho-emotional state. Vitamin and mineral complexes are used to improve the general condition.

In addition to psychotherapy, an obligatory stage of treatment is an examination by other specialists, for example, a gastroenterologist, a nutritionist, a urologist, a cardiologist, and doctors of other somatic profiles who have experienced complications.

Is it possible to deal with the problem on your own

With a mild form of compulsive disorder, as well as at the initial stage of its formation, it is possible to cope with the disease at home. The following activities form the basis of outpatient therapy:

• Eliminate the causes that can provoke an exacerbation of the pathology;
• In stressful situations, try to remain calm and not to take everything that happens to heart;
• Go in for sports – physical activity helps to forget negative emotions, improve the psycho-emotional state and cope with excess weight;
• With the help of nutritionists to choose the right, rational diet;
• Find a hobby, hobby that will bring pleasure and help to cope with emotional overstrain;
• Make time for self-care;
• Do not treat yourself categorically; learn to mobilize energy and direct it in the right direction, and meditation, reading, meeting new people, and active rest will help with this.

In any large settlement, there are self-help groups where you can turn for help, share a problem, find the strength to start a fight with a problem, listen to the experience of treating others and find life goals and priorities. During the treatment of psychogenic overeating, the help and support of relatives and friends are important.

Nutrition Features

In the fight against psychogenic overeating, the patient’s work with nutritionists is mandatory, which helps to restore a conscious attitude to food, paying attention to such points:

• Adequate daily calorie content of food;
• Eating 3-5 times a day in small portions;
• The diet should be dominated by fiber, dairy products, fish, fresh fruits, and vegetables;
• It would help if you ate slowly, and while eating, it is recommended to pay attention to the taste of foods and their smell;
• All products are preferably boiled, steamed, stewed, or baked in the oven;
• While eating, you should not read books, watch TV or sit at the computer.

It is also recommended to remove from the house all the products the patient liked to overeat. This helps reduce disruptions. At first, the nutritionist makes up a menu for the patient daily, which he must strictly follow.

Conclusion

Compulsive overeating is a psychogenic disorder that requires treatment. Otherwise, it becomes the cause of severe complications from the side of mental and physical health. To do this, use psychotherapy, as well as work with nutritionists. In the course of treatment, it is important not to restrict access to food but to change the patient’s attitude towards it and improve the state of health with the help of proper nutrition.