Compulsive overeating is common to both males and females. A person who has not learned how to face problems since his childhood is likely to develop this malady. Those who are afflicted with this abnormal eating habit tend to use food as a cover-up to their problems. People who have this problem feel better about themselves when they eat much.

These are some who feel that getting fat means protection. The more they get bigger, the more they feel protected. Because they appear less attractive, the less people will have attention to them so they feel more secure.

Persons who have this eating disorder can easily be identified. They show common signs which would include one or more of the following:

A person eats a large amount of food and at a faster rate. This he does even if he does not feel hungry. He could not stop eating even if he is already full. When a person prefers to eat alone or eat inside his room, he is also suspected of having this compulsive overeating disorder.

It is a common mark of people with compulsive overeating disorder to have repeated episodes of bingeing and depression. They may overeat at one time and full guilty afterwards.

Other common signs of compulsive overeating are fluctuation of weight over a long period of time and withdrawal from group activities. They also attribute their sad condition to their overweight condition, but then can do nothing to stop their overeating. At another time they would try every diet fad that comes and continuously hopes to reduce their weight.

As a whole, compulsive overeating is only the tip of the iceberg. The real problem lies in the emotional state and the way a person looks at himself. Only professional help can do so much for people who have compulsive overeating problems and which should be done as immediately as possible.