What is compulsive eating?

        A compulsion is a strong or irresistible impulse. Compulsive eating is the strong urge to eat when you are not physiologically hungry. Compulsive eaters are triggered to eat by things other than physical cues (e.g., hunger pains, weakness, or irritability).

        These people often engage in a daily battle between their desire to eat and their efforts to limit their eating so they can manage their weight.

        So, what can be done to overcome compulsive eating? One method for overcoming compulsive eating is to engage in pleasure-based eating. This method could also be termed, never say “never.”

        To begin, make a list of the foods you really enjoy. Many of these foods you list may be ones that you have overly restricted in the past. Be sure to include these foods in your food plan. If you do not, you may find yourself continuing to obsess over the fact that you “cannot” have them, resulting in a pent-up desire that leads to inappropriate eating.

        A second, very different, method some have found helpful for modifying their eating is to reduce the number and intensity of cues for inappropriate eating in their daily lives. Food-cue management is a method of controlling exposure to foods. Food-cues can be controlled by:

        • Developing and adhering to a very routine food plan. Limiting your food choices to a selected list of foods will reduce your exposure to food cues.

        • Choosing foods that are moderate in taste and attractiveness. If foods are too stimulating, you may be more likely to overeat them. Try for a middle ground between satisfying, but not overstimulating, your taste buds.

        • Making food preparation and clean-up easy. Food-cue exposure is greatly reduced when you limit the amount of time you spend around food. If possible, get others in the family to help out as much as possible.

        It is up to you to determine which method will work best for you. The pleasure-based eating method may be helpful if you know that you have a rebellious streak that may cause you to overreact if food choices and cues are limited for a period of time.

        However, you may be more comfortable using the cue management method, which puts more structure and control into your eating habits. Try one method, and if it feels comfortable, try the other.

        Healthy Eating is provided by staff members at Jewish Hospital Weight Management Center (www.morethanadiet.com), Evendale.

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