Eating Disorder Clinics

An eating disorder is a psychological condition in which the sufferer either overeats or under-eats unhealthily so as to pose a danger to mental or physical health or both. One of these is known as the compulsive eating disorder. It is also known as a binge eating disorder or a compulsive overeating disorder (COD).

The focus of this article is on some aspects of a compulsive eating disorder.

A compulsive eating disorder is one in which an individual is given to unrestrained bouts of eating large quantities of food. Generally guilt follows or depression. An individual who has this illness needs help to recover from it. Eating disorder clinics offer assistance on the condition. Some persons suffer from compulsive eating disorder for years. For them, recovery appears to be an unending battle.

An individual's behavior is responsible for compulsive eating disorder. Compulsive overeating can destroy lives. In no case should this illness be left untreated.

A person who has compulsive eating disorder can suffer from various medical complications. These complications include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, gall bladder disease, and some types of cancer. Such persons can be subject to several types of psychiatric illnesses such as depression and anxiety.

The correlation between compulsive eating disorder and disturbance in certain regulatory mechanisms has been established through research. People who have compulsive eating disorder may suffer disturbance in sexual function, physical development and growth, digestion and appetite, sleep, emotions, heart function, kidney function, memory, and thinking.

There may be a link between compulsive eating disorder and depression. The level of vasopressin is found to be raised in many patients. Genetic reasons have also been cited as a cause of compulsive eating disorder. Behavioral as well as environmental factors may also play a role in its incidence.

Other factors such as a mother's nagging about her daughter's weight and physical shape may also put the daughter at risk of developing compulsive eating disorder.

Treatment methods concentrate on treating obesity through a weight loss program and its medical complications first and then interpersonal psychotherapy is provided.

Weight loss treatment is provided through nutrition counseling provided by registered dietitians. The patient is made aware about the importance of the relationship that he/she has with food. The patient is informed about the dietary changes that will be needed and the schedule of meals to be followed by them without fail.

Therapists provide psychiatric guidance. The overall aim of treatment is to break the cycle of repeated overeating, which has trapped the compulsive disorder patient. Parental, marital, and group support therapy may also be needed.

Through this article, some aspects related to compulsive eating disorder have been provided for your benefit. For other information on this condition, you can search on the Internet.

Eating Disorder Clinics |