Is overeating an illness?

[Laaaaa]

Just that really. I have a problem with food, I consume huge amounts of calories every day it's like I need a mixture of fat, carbs sugar to cope with life. I have been thin but now getting bigger every fat snd filled with self hatred.

I have heard of overeaters anonymous but struggle with the concept of an illness surely I'm just greedy.

I wake up everyday with the best intentions but then have this overwhelming urge to eat abs then when I start I can't stop.

Anyone else like this, any advice?

I doubt MN will agree but I think it is.

I'm depressed and have anxiety (as well as lots of personal issues - disabled child / sudden death of parent / recently developed an autoimmune condition that had me off my feet for 6 months and on steroids = medical weight gain) and I am an emotional binge eater.

Things are pretty intense at the moment so there are very few days I'm "healthy" and manage a well balanced and calorie controlled diet (and I'm not outlandish with the calories... I aim for 1800 when I am trying to make an effort)

I'm fat, I'm embarrassed to look in the mirror, I avoid seeing anyone socially, I loath myself and my inability to turn this around (especially given I'm high risk for type 2 diabetes GD with DC3 and I need to be healthy for my beautiful disabled child who will never live independently). Its not a lack of control, its a lack of caring about myself. I'd say controversially it could even be considered a form of self harm. I hate myself that much, I don't feel worthy. I'm just a fat, mess of a woman who is losing herself with every passing day.

I am seeking a therapist at the moment as this cannot go on.

There is binge eating disorder.

The problem is that it's not treated as a mental illness which needs supporting to overcome - it's treated as a lazy indulgent lifestyle choice.

I swing to both extremes and have been very small as a result, just as currently I'm morbidly obese.

Haven't ever received support for either.

Ah other people see it too that's reassuring its just not me

I think it’s recognised as a metabolic disorder.

Read ‘why we eat ( too much) ‘

Emotional eating. The combo of fat and sugar gets you high. It’s addictive. You’re not addicted to food, you’re addicted to carbs.

I did a course on emotional eating and it was amazing because I realised that it wasn’t anything to do with the food. I needed to deal with all of the reasons why I felt so overwhelmed and unable to cope. When I finished the course I had already stopped emotionally eating carbs.

It's emotional eating. If you want to put that in a mental health category then go for it but when I used to do it I knew it was just piggery under a different name. Whatever works for you if it's part of a system to help you lose weight but to use it as an excuse for being overweight is on a par with 'I've got heavy bones' and 'I can't help it, it's my genes'.

I have BED but it's well managed now, I think if you're using food as something more than fuel to the extent you know its causing physical harm but can't stop, there is something underlying.

There's a podcast called brain over binge. It's MAGIC. A total game changer when it comes to stopping binge eating. I really feel for you. It's a horrendous disorder.

@Noterook how did you get it well controlled?

The issue I have is I don't seem to be every ready to give it up and o really don't know what it's going to take

I don't think it is. I'm overweight due to over eating and it's just lack of self control. I make no excuses for it.

[quote Laaaaa]@Noterook how did you get it well controlled?

The issue I have is I don't seem to be every ready to give it up and o really don't know what it's going to take[/quote]
I actually started by looking at the support group on Beat. My eating has always been intrinsically linked to my emotions, and after suffering trauma when I was younger it has escalated until it was just overtaking every aspect of my life. I reached out to the GP who was fairly dismissive of the eating itself but helped me to address the underlying emotional issues, including finding my triggers and how to manage them- different coping mechanisms I guess. Also had medication for a while, but tapered off of that eventually once my weight was down and I have more control.

I do think some people just eat a lot or don't know much about nutrition or have access to it, but for many there are underlying causes and its a symptom; if the underlying issue isn't resolved I think it's like clmkning a mountain without any equipment.

I went to Overeaters Anon for 2 years.
You sound like you'd fit in well, OP.
Why not go lurk on some of their online fora?
Maybe that way you'll read more from people who have been in your situation and describe how they found ways to be willing to change.

I think it could be, like @Waxonwaxoff0 I'm overweight because I eat (and drink ) far too much.....for my needs, others have commented that I don't eat that much for the size of me. I have an under active thyroid BUT if I put my mind to it (and eat like a frigging sparrow) I can lose weight very very slowly.
I also believe genetics play a part, growing up my sister was soooo slim (she looked underweight at some points in childhood) and I was very overweight. We ate the same diet and did the same levels of exercise....I just clearly always needed far fewer calories to keep weight on me. This is also the same with our children...hers are very slim and she feeds them huge meals to keep weight on them, I have one slim child and one chubby child that is currently on a health kick with me to try and lose a little weight.
Then you have the evidence that long term dieting detrimentally affects your metabolism which is then a nightmare to reset for 'normal ' healthy eating, ie eat a normal calorie controlled diet and you will still gain or retain weight.
Add into all of this the psychological connections we make with food from a very young age a lot of us are ticking time bombs for food issues. I'm not sure if I would call it an illness as such but I'm not sure I would put all of the responsibility on the individual with the issue either.
I think in general a lot more focus on healthy eating in schools (not, for example, the woeful food tech lessons we currently have in high school....mine made brownies for gods sake!)would be beneficial. I also wish takeaway ordering sites such as just eat were never invented...don't even have to ring the local takeaway anymore and loads more choice of unhealthy food that is easy to have delivered to the door
Anyway, after my epic rant....I think the problem is with society on the whole and unless something is done collectively we will all keep getting fatter!!!