Both behaviors feature eating food in excess, even when you are not hungry.
Compulsive eating causes you to overeat even when you are not hungry, or your body doesnt need food.
Binge eating is amental health disorderthat features recurring bouts of compulsive eating.
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Its a mental condition that makes you unable to control the urge to eat.
Both behaviors can cause physical discomfort, social embarrassment, and emotional distress.
Compulsive eating might also be referred to as food addiction.
Read on to learn more about the differences between both conditions and how to recognize them.
An eating disorder needs to be correctly diagnosed by a doctor or your healthcare provider.
However, frequent episodes of this might be classified as a binge eating disorder.
People with binge eating disorder experience frequent episodes of compulsive eating, also known as binge eating episodes.
Though similar, they have several differentiators that make them unique conditions.
For instance, compulsive eating may be brought on by factors such as stress or hormonal fluctuations.
Causes of Compulsive Eating
Compulsive eating may result because of specific emotional triggers.
For instance, observing your parents or a sibling eat compulsively could also make you eat compulsively.
Psychological factors could also cause you to overeat, like stress eating.
Some people eat compulsively because they are bored, distressed, or in a bad mood.
Scientists suspect a combination of genetic, psychological, and environmental factors.
In some scenarios, restrictive dieting may trigger binge eating disorder.
Some people are at a higher risk of developing binge eating disorder.
For a diagnosis to be made, your doctor will take a look at your medical and family history.
A physical examination and some routine lab tests might also be carried out.
Your doctor will ask you to describe your symptoms and their frequency.
Diagnosis of binge eating disorder
The DSM-5 provides specific criteria for diagnosing eating disorders.
The bingeing is also required to occur at least once a week for three months.
Treatment for compulsive eating
Theres no specific treatment for compulsive eating.
In many scenarios, compulsive eating episodes are one-off scenarios and nothing to worry about.
If they are recurring, then you might have a binge eating disorder.
As its a mental health condition, you will need to consult with a mental health professional.
You might also be asked to make a couple of lifestyle changes.
The medication works by decreasing the frequency of compulsive eating episodes in people with binge eating disorders.
It can cause feelings of embarrassment and emotional distress.
Binge eating disorder features frequent episodes of compulsive eating.
In some ways, compulsive eating is seen as the main feature of binge eating disorder.
Binge eating disorder is a condition that affects millions of Americans.
