Feelings and Thoughts

Symptoms & Results
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What are the symptoms of compulsive overeating?

The symptoms include:

• Bingeing frequently and repeatedly

• Feeling like you cannot stop eating

• Eating in secrecy

• A history of “failed” diets

• Feelings of shame about bingeing

• May be overweight and depressed

What are the results of compulsive over eating?

The most obvious result is weight gain. When people binge, they usually don’t binge on healthy food, but on high calorie “junk” food, therefore causing them to gain weight. Overeating can also result in more serious health problems if you are already overweight, such as an increased risk of heart attacks.

Below is a checklist of symptoms experienced by compulsive overeaters:

1 - Do you eat when you're not hungry?

2 - Do you go on eating binges for no apparent reason?

3 - Do you have feelings of guilt and remorse after overeating?

4 - Do you give too much time and thought to food?

5 - Do you look forward with pleasure and anticipation to the time when you can eat alone?

6 - Do you plan these secret binges ahead of time?

7 - Do you eat sensibly before others and make up for it alone?

8 - Do you hide your food?

9 - Have you tried to diet for a week (or longer), only to fall short of your goal?

10 - Do you resent others telling you to "use a little willpower" to stop overeating?

11 - Despite evidence to the contrary, have you continued to assert that you can diet "on your own" whenever you wish?

12 - Do you crave to eat at a definite time, day or night, other than meal time?

13 - Do you eat to escape from worries or trouble?

14 - Have you ever been treated for obesity or a food-related condition?

15 - Does your eating behavior make you or others unhappy?

16 - Is your weight affecting your health?

17 - Do you feel lethargic or daze like?

18 - Do you crave specific types of food products, such as wheat, milk, flour, rice?

19 - Do you have withdrawal symptoms from not eating certain foods?

20 - Have you ever blacked out or passed out from overeating?

21 - Does any one in your family suffer from above symptoms ?

22 - Do you suffer from body image problems ?

23 - Do you shop for food when you dont require to ?

If you have identified with some of the symptoms above, and feel you would benifit from a workshop or attending a self help group, then please visit the Workshops page.