Eating Disorder Help
Teen Eating Disorder Facts
Causes of Teen Eating Disorders Eating Disorder Statistics Overview of Eating Disorders Athletes and Eating Disorders Myths About Eating Disorders Eating Disorders and Substance Abuse Distorted Body Image Thinspiration Fasting for Weight Loss Eating Disorders and the Media Anorexia Statistics What is Wannarexia? Eating Disorders and Genetics Psychological Effects of Eating Disorders
Teen Eating Disorder Help
Preventing Eating Disorders Treatment for Eating Disorders Warning Signs of Eating Disorders Teen Body Image Eating Disorder Quiz Body Dysmorphic Disorder Eating Disorder Support Groups Psychological Treatment for Eating Disorders Eating Disorder Clinics Residential Treatment for Eating Disorders Eating Disorder Association Eating Disorder Therapy Eating Disorder Forums Dialectical Behavior Therapy Talking to Teens and Tweens About Eating Disorders Fat-Talk Free Week Campaign
Teen Eating Disorders
Anorexia Nervosa Binge Eating Disorder Bulimia Nervosa Pica Eating Disorder Overeating Disorder Male Eating Disorders Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS) Types of Eating Disorders Anorexia Athletica Orthorexia Drunkorexia
Signs of Eating Disorders
Though almost everyone overeats occasionally, overeating can become a serious health problem. This article explains more about overeating and overeating disorder. Keep reading to learn about health problems related to overeating and obesity and tips on avoiding overeating.
Overeating can be the result of bad eating habits or of compulsive overeating disorder. If teens can’t change their bad eating habits to avoid overeating, they may need medical help to stop overeating.
Overeating and teens
Most people overeat at Thanksgiving or when they’re at a pizza party, but some teens overeat on a regular basis. This can cause a teen to be overweight or obese, which often leads to health problems.
Some of the health problems related to overeating and obesity include:
Teens may overeat because they have developed bad eating habits. They eat more than they need to because they are bored, depressed, or simply not thinking about what they’re eating. Teens who are overeating should try to change their eating habits.
Good eating habits to avoid overeating include:
Compulsive overeating disorder
Some teens try to change their eating habits, but still find themselves overeating. They may turn to food for comfort when they feel stressed, sad, or inadequate and feel like they can’t stop themselves from eating at those times. These teens often overeat in secret and feel guilty about their eating problem. These are signs of compulsive overeating disorder.
A teen with compulsive overeating disorder is literally addicted to food and cannot control his or her eating behaviors. The teen may consume large numbers of calories well past the point where he or she feels full. He or she may obsess over food and spend time thinking about or planning when they will eat next.
A teen with compulsive overeating disorder needs help to overcome his or her addiction. Counseling may help, and, depending on the underlying reasons the person is overeating, medical procedures may also be necessary.
Overeaters Anonymous is a support group to help overeaters learn to control their compulsive eating. It is based on the 12 Step program, which involves acknowledging that you have a problem that is beyond your own ability to fix and looking to a higher power for help. Those who are not religious or don't believe in a higher power may have more success with a different kind of support group.
Most teens who seek treatment for compulsive overeating disorder are able to overcome their addiction and be in control of their lives again.
University of Pennsylvania, Office of Health Education, "Compulsive Overeating Disorder" [online]
Overeaters Anonymous [online]
Elizabeth Cohen, CNN.com Health, "Line Between Overeating and Binge Disorder is a Thin One" [online]
Related Article: Binge Eating Disorder >>