Compulsive eating disorder is an eating disorder in which a person eats excessive amounts of food in an uncontrollable manner, often consuming a large amount of calories in one sitting. Some compulsive over eaters eat food throughout the day, an activity known as grazing. They are often unaware of the amount of calories they are consuming throughout the day. For those suffering from compulsive overeating food has become a drug and they experience a type of high from binging. They are not merely food loving individuals, they are food addicts.

Compulsive eating disorder may be difficult to diagnose initially as the affected persons are usually in a mode of self denial and may binge on food in private and eat little in front of others. They feel an uncontrollable urge to eat even when they are full. Episodes of overeating and consuming much more than required are regular.

The typical features of this disorder are –

• Frequent episodes of uncontrollable binge eating

• Feeling extremely distressed or upset during or after bingeing

• Obsessive thinking or talking about body weight, shape, size, appearance or food.

• Rapid weight gain.

• Hoarding of food

• Hidden food or food wrappers.

• Large quantities of money spent on food, restaurants, or at the grocery store.

• No attempts to "make up" for the binges through vomiting, fasting, or over-exercising.

These affected people often promise themselves not to indulge in binge eating again but before long they relapse into a spell of overeating. This is because compulsive overeating is an addiction and requires professional help to deal with the underlying psychological issues causing the behaviors. The affected people often experience emotions of guilt, disgust and depression after bingeing but are helpless when it comes to eating less.

Here are some helpful questions to ask-

• Do you feel out of control when you’re eating?

• Do you think about food all the time?

• Do you eat in secret?

• Do you eat until you feel sick?

• Do you eat to escape from worries or to comfort yourself?

• Do you feel disgusted or ashamed after eating?

• Do you feel powerless to stop eating, even though you want to?