How Overeating Can Be an Addiction

Binge eating involves consuming a large amount of food in a short space of time. Binges, by definition, require you to eat more food than people normally do, and more food than you need.

Binge eating can happen on a single occasion, or it can become a regular way of eating, leading to problems. Although binge eating in itself does not necessarily constitute a food addiction or eating disorder, binge eating is a symptom of Binge Eating Disorder and the eating disorder Bulimia Nervosa.

Supersize meal portions are commonly the extra-large portions of fast food or restaurant meal servings, whereby the food portion you buy is much larger than a normal meal portion. Supersize meal portions are heavily marketed, particularly in North American culture. This can easily lead to consuming much larger amounts of food than necessary and, if eaten on a regular basis, can lead to obesity and poor nutrition.

Commonly cited on shows such as Oprah, emotional eating is frequently referred to as a way that women, in particular, eat when they feel upset or unhappy.

The clichés of the girl eating a quart of ice cream after a bad breakup, or the middle-aged women bingeing on carbs when she has PMS, are examples of "emotional eating" stereotypes.

Unfortunately these stereotypes can lead to the very behavior they portray in people who relate to them. What's more, men experience emotional eating as well.

Stress eating, although closely related to emotional eating, is more heavily driven by anxiety rather than depression, and may be a way of fueling overwork when the time is not taken for adequate breaks or meals.

Sweet, sugary food is particularly addictive to many people. Some overeaters binge on confectionary or other sweet foods, with chocolate having a particular allure. Parents should be vigilant that their children do not develop sugar addiction, as daily sweets consumption in childhood is related to emotional difficulties in adulthood, as well as obesity and tooth decay.

Although eating two to three snacks a day between meals is often considered healthy, constant snacking, particularly on unhealthy snacks, can lead to overeating, whether the snacking is in place of or in addition to regular meals. Many overeaters fall into the trap of carefully planning three healthy meals a day but not including snacks in their calorie count, thereby inadvertently overeating.

People who rely on fast food often overeat. Fast food is designed to stimulate overeating, typically by using a combination of sugar, salt, and fat, all shown by research to be addictive. Although the ingredients of fast food may be poor quality and unappetizing, the addictive ingredients ensure a huge turnover of high-calorie food, which can lead to obesity and poor nutrition.

While comfort eating can be healthy in moderation, people who eat in order to deal with distressing emotions may overeat and, in a similar way to stress eaters and emotional eaters, comfort eaters may fall into the trap of food addiction as their primary coping strategy.

Social eating is a widely accepted practice and, in moderation, can be a healthy activity. But people who are constantly under pressure to eat socially, such as those who routinely wine and dine others, or people who meet over business meals, may be prone to overeating, particularly when the expectation is for large portions and high-calorie foods.

Boredom eating is a mindless approach to food, in which a lack of stimulation in other areas of life leads to eating, just to feel something. Boredom eaters can be prone to binge eating, supersize portions, compulsive snacking, sugar addiction, and fast food.