Like many terms in the realm of eating, weight, and body image, “overeating” is one that’s often misunderstood. Similarly, the incorrect use of obsessive compulsive disorder (“I’m so OCD because I love organizing my closet!”) has led many people to misinterpret the meaning of “compulsive.” When those terms are lumped together, it’s easy to see why a Google search for “compulsive overeating” produces about 16 million confusing and sometimes contradictory results. Some are focused on “food addiction,” others offer tips to stop overeating, and many are dedicated to binge eating disorder (BED). So what, exactly, is compulsive overeating, and is it an eating disorder? Let’s unpack it.

What is “compulsive overeating”?

While there’s no official clinical diagnosis for “compulsive overeating,” we can break down the definition from the meanings of the two words. “‘Compulsive’ describes behaviors that are repetitive. These behaviors can often be in response to an irresistible urge or an obsession,” says Equip dietitian Rui Tanimura, RD. ‘'‘Overeating’ doesn't always have a very clear definition to it, since diet culture has impacted how people define this as well.” In other words, because society tends to idealize thinness and food restriction, some people may eat a totally normal quantity of food and still feel like they “overate.” People with eating disorders also tend to have a distorted sense of how much food they have consumed.

As a registered dietitian working in the field of eating disorder treatment, Tanimura considers “overeating” to be an umbrella term for other behaviors, like binge eating, emotional eating, or grazing (sometimes defined as “the unstructured, repetitive eating of small amounts of food”). “For some people, overeating could be described as feeling like they have eaten past their own comfortable level of fullness,” Tanimura says. “I use the word ‘feeling,’ as these tend to be subjective and unique experiences per person. Sometimes clinicians describe symptoms as ‘subjective overeating,’ which means the client believes they are overeating, however, clinically, we wouldn't define it as that.”

Although the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) does not include an official definition for compulsive overeating, Tanimura says the closest would likely be the definition of a binge found in the description of binge eating disorder (BED). She explains that a binge is characterized by:

• Eating in a discrete period of time an amount of food that is definitely larger than most people would eat in a similar period of time under similar circumstances
• The sense of lack of control over eating during the episode

For someone to be diagnosed with binge eating disorder, they need to meet other criteria, which includes the frequency of binges.

What causes compulsive overeating?

Just as BED is often dismissed as a lack of willpower, people tend to believe that compulsive overeating is a result of not being disciplined enough. Not only is this untrue, but it also ignores the true root of all eating disorders (including those without clinical definitions): the binge-restrict cycle. Research has shown that most binges (or incidences of “overeating”) are preceded by a period of restriction. Because the negative physical and mental effects of food deprivation are unsustainable, people who chronically restrict eventually and inevitably have to listen to their hunger, and may eat more than usual when they do so—which then leads to shame and renewed restriction.

“Intentional restriction causes our body to be at an energy deficit,” Tanimura says. “Due to this deficit, psychological and hormonal changes occur that increase our drive to eat. We start to hyperfocus on food. We may notice excessive thoughts around food. This is because our body is trying to correct the imbalance from the energy deficit. When urges bubble over and become too intense, this can trigger overeating or binge eating.”

“It’s a normal and biological response for our body to be fixated on food if there is an energy deficit,” Tanimura says. “Discipline and willpower should not be a part of how we interact with food. Our relationship with food should feel natural, easy, and intuitive rather than requiring so much focus and intensity.”

Beyond restriction, Tanimura says there are some other common triggers that may lead someone to restrict or binge, including difficult emotions, thoughts, or events. “Understanding the unique triggers of compulsive overeating is very important,” she says. “The negative emotions build over time, and one may not feel equipped to use any coping skills, so they’ll turn to eating in an attempt to manage negative emotions.”

Risks of compulsive overeating

It’s important to understand that occasionally eating “too much” (however that is defined) is generally not considered problematic. However, when the behavior becomes habitual, it can result in negative mental and physical effects. According to Tanimura, the risks associated with compulsive overeating include:

• Excessive feelings of guilt, shame, disgust, or embarrassment which can trigger people to start dieting or restricting again, trapping themselves in the binge-restrict cycle
• Negative impact on mood, social life, and energy levels
• Negative impact on digestion (As Tanimura says: “our digestive system likes consistency and adequacy!”)

Compulsive overeating vs. binge eating disorder

While compulsive overeating and binge eating disorder are often conflated, the two are not necessarily the same. Because there’s no official definition for compulsive overeating, someone who self-identifies as a compulsive overeater may or may not have binge eating disorder. Binge eating disorder has specified diagnostic criteria, which includes:

• Eating much more food than other people might consider “normal” during a short amount of time
• Eating until feeling uncomfortably full
• Eating large amounts of food despite not feeling physically hungry
• Embarrassment over how much one is eating, which leads to eating alone
• Feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed, or very guilty after a binge

While many—if not most—people overeat occasionally, BED is characterized by distinct patterns of behavior that happen consistently and have a negative effect on a person’s mental and physical health. “Compulsive overeating can be a symptom of BED, however BED has five different criteria and a severity grading depending on how many binge eating episodes occur,” Tanimura says.

Treatment options for compulsive overeating

If you’re concerned that you or a loved one might be experiencing symptoms associated with BED, it’s important to seek out an assessment from an eating disorder professional and follow recommendations for appropriate treatment.

If you don’t meet the clinical criteria for BED but are still struggling with compulsive overeating, you also deserve support and care. This may include:

• Building a support team that includes a registered dietitian, therapist, and medical provider, all of whom have experience treating eating disorders
• Learning coping skills that are effective and continuing to practice using them
• Understanding if you’re in an energy deficit because of inconsistent or inadequate food intake
• Recognizing what things trigger episodes of compulsive overeating
• Practicing self compassion and patience learning to let go of disordered behaviors
• Building a support system outside of treatment team, which might include family, friends, or other trusted people in your life

Regardless of whether you meet the clinical diagnosis for BED or any eating disorder, you deserve proper support and expert-led treatment. Eating disorders exist on a continuum, and if your relationship to food feels strained or unhealthy, it’s time to seek help—there’s no such thing as “not sick enough.” Talk to a trusted medical or mental health professional, or schedule a call with an Equip team member to talk through your concerns.