Definitions of compulsive eating

[Guest guest]

In response to Tai's request for compulsive eating definitions...I think it's really hard to define, and it maybe even depends on the individuals' definition of it for themselves. I think a lot of people might say that compulsive eating is eating for reasons other than for bodily sustenance. Problem is - food is rarely just food! We eat for many reasons and choose the foods that we choose for many reasons, and just because we do that doesn't mean it's compulsive, but it can be. For me, if the food is causing problems with healthy functioning in other areas of my life, including my self esteem, and I eat it anyway, then I'm eating compulsively. But...sometimes I'm going to eat compulsively, and that has to be OK. For me, it's social situations. I eat because I want to be a

part of a social gathering, and that's what everyone is doing. I think that, if I feel compelled to eat in those situations, but don't want to, it is compulsive. However, if I recognize that I am eating for a reason other than hunger, and I know the reason, and choose to eat food for that reason, then I am not eating compulsively.Rain

[Guest guest]

Thank you for all your responses, they all make sense. Rain, in regard to social eating, now that you mention it, I realize that if I do not eat when everyone else is eating I may be different, and of course, no one wants to be different. That realization will help me to say no to food in a social setting when I'm really not hungry. I want to thank you all for your answers, for me, they are all true. TaiTo:

intuitiveeating_support Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2011 1:52 PMSubject: Definitions of compulsive eating

In response to Tai's request for compulsive eating definitions...I think it's really hard to define, and it maybe even depends on the individuals' definition of it for themselves. I think a lot of people might say that compulsive eating is eating for reasons other than for bodily sustenance. Problem is - food is rarely just food! We eat for many reasons and choose the foods that we choose for many reasons, and just because we do that doesn't mean it's compulsive, but it can be. For me, if the food is causing problems with healthy functioning in other areas of my life, including my self esteem, and I eat it anyway, then I'm eating compulsively. But...sometimes I'm going to eat compulsively, and that has to be OK. For me, it's social situations. I eat because I want

to be a

part of a social gathering, and that's what everyone is doing. I think that, if I feel compelled to eat in those situations, but don't want to, it is compulsive. However, if I recognize that I am eating for a reason other than hunger, and I know the reason, and choose to eat food for that reason, then I am not eating compulsively.Rain

[Guest guest]

Thank you for all your responses, they all make sense. Rain, in regard to social eating, now that you mention it, I realize that if I do not eat when everyone else is eating I may be different, and of course, no one wants to be different. That realization will help me to say no to food in a social setting when I'm really not hungry. I want to thank you all for your answers, for me, they are all true. TaiTo:

intuitiveeating_support Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2011 1:52 PMSubject: Definitions of compulsive eating

In response to Tai's request for compulsive eating definitions...I think it's really hard to define, and it maybe even depends on the individuals' definition of it for themselves. I think a lot of people might say that compulsive eating is eating for reasons other than for bodily sustenance. Problem is - food is rarely just food! We eat for many reasons and choose the foods that we choose for many reasons, and just because we do that doesn't mean it's compulsive, but it can be. For me, if the food is causing problems with healthy functioning in other areas of my life, including my self esteem, and I eat it anyway, then I'm eating compulsively. But...sometimes I'm going to eat compulsively, and that has to be OK. For me, it's social situations. I eat because I want

to be a

part of a social gathering, and that's what everyone is doing. I think that, if I feel compelled to eat in those situations, but don't want to, it is compulsive. However, if I recognize that I am eating for a reason other than hunger, and I know the reason, and choose to eat food for that reason, then I am not eating compulsively.Rain

[Guest guest]

Thank you for all your responses, they all make sense. Rain, in regard to social eating, now that you mention it, I realize that if I do not eat when everyone else is eating I may be different, and of course, no one wants to be different. That realization will help me to say no to food in a social setting when I'm really not hungry. I want to thank you all for your answers, for me, they are all true. TaiTo:

intuitiveeating_support Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2011 1:52 PMSubject: Definitions of compulsive eating

In response to Tai's request for compulsive eating definitions...I think it's really hard to define, and it maybe even depends on the individuals' definition of it for themselves. I think a lot of people might say that compulsive eating is eating for reasons other than for bodily sustenance. Problem is - food is rarely just food! We eat for many reasons and choose the foods that we choose for many reasons, and just because we do that doesn't mean it's compulsive, but it can be. For me, if the food is causing problems with healthy functioning in other areas of my life, including my self esteem, and I eat it anyway, then I'm eating compulsively. But...sometimes I'm going to eat compulsively, and that has to be OK. For me, it's social situations. I eat because I want

to be a

part of a social gathering, and that's what everyone is doing. I think that, if I feel compelled to eat in those situations, but don't want to, it is compulsive. However, if I recognize that I am eating for a reason other than hunger, and I know the reason, and choose to eat food for that reason, then I am not eating compulsively.Rain