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Coping with Compulsive Overeating

© Heather Mudgett.

Compulsive Overeating is an eating disorder which is often overlooked. The compulsive overeater, or binge-eater, finds themselves using food as an addictive substance. Just like some people abuse alcohol, drugs or gambling, the compulsive overeater abuses food.

The Health-Center's page on compulsive overeating http://www.health-center.com/english/bra... describes symptoms and complications of binge-eating disorders this way... "Because they are embarrassed about their eating habits, many people with Binge-Eating Disorder will eat in private or rarely eat with others or in public. Their embarrassment often interferes with their work, relationships, and self image. People with this disorder often do not have set meal times and will snack throughout the day. Because they go through periods of bingeing and normal eating, their weight fluctuates rapidly. They often try to diet, but quickly regain the weight they lose. Eventually, they may stop trying to diet because of frustration"

There are a number of treatment options available for the compulsive overeater. Individual or group therapy and outpatient or even inpatient programs are certainly treatment options. There are also non-profit organizations available which deal specifically with conmpulsive overeating.

One of the most well known such organizations is Overeater Anonymous. OA is an international, non-profit organization, dedicated to recovery from overeating. OA follows a 12 step program, and has groups which meet in many cities accross the U.S. as well as around the world. The OA site is at http://www.overeaters.org and they explain their program this way... "Overeaters Anonymous is a fellowship of individuals who, through shared experience, strength, and hope are recovering from compulsive overeating. Our recovery program is identical with that of Alcoholics Anonymous. We use AA's 12 steps and 12 traditions. As our personal stories attest the 12 step program of recovery works as well for compulsive overeaters as it does for alcoholics. We welcome everyone who wants to stop eating compulsively. There are no dues or fees for members; we are self-supporting through our own contributions, neither soliciting nor accepting outside donations. OA is not affiliated with any public or private organization, political movement, ideology, or religious doctrine; we take no position on outside issues. Our primary purpose is to abstain from compulsive overeating and to carry this message of recovery to those who still suffer."

The following is wonderful list of Affirmations for People suffering from Compulsive Overeating.

1. My worth as a person is not diminished in any way by my body size or my eating patterns.

2. I will love myself no matter what my eating patterns are.