Overeating as a Mental Disorder

Recent research in psychiatry has drawn attention to one of the pressing problems of modern society — food addiction. The habit of constantly eating food without feeling hungry and the ability to control one’s eating habits are now recognized as a possible mental disorder. Previously, doctors had already compared such behavior to addictions such as kleptomania or gambling addiction. Today, the problem of overeating is beginning to be considered a serious mental disorder.

Food addiction: a growing problem
In recent decades, the number of people suffering from obesity and various eating disorders has increased significantly. According to statistics, about one in two hundred people has a food addiction caused by a mental disorder such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, better known as obsessive-compulsive disorder. This disorder is usually characterized by a persistent, uncontrollable desire to perform actions or experience urges that a person cannot overcome on their own.

obsessive-compulsive disorder: symptoms and consequences
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a condition in which a person experiences severe, depressing thoughts or experiences that can manifest themselves in the form of obsessive desires or actions. These conditions are often painful for a person, and their manifestations can cause deep psychoemotional problems. In cases where food addiction develops against the background of such a disorder, a person cannot get rid of his habit on his own, which often leads to an aggravation of the problem and weight gain.

the connection between the psyche and behavior
Psychiatry has long argued that food addiction can be the result of various nervous disorders, and sometimes it occurs in people without obvious mental deviations. Doctors believe that overeating, especially if it is accompanied by a lack of control, is a real mental disorder. It is important to note that such a diagnosis is confirmed by certain psychiatric criteria and may lead to the need to change approaches to treatment.

Overeating as a diagnosis: new standards
According to the latest data, more than 0.5% of the population suffers from a disorder associated with overeating, and it fully meets the criteria for behavioral addiction. In Western psychiatry, new guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of such disorders are being developed, which may significantly affect therapy methods. Experts are already studying evidence that in some people food can cause the same psychophysiological reactions as drugs.

Changes in treatment approaches
If food addiction is indeed recognized as an official mental disorder, this will significantly change treatment approaches. Perhaps in the future, treatment will include not only traditional dietary and physical exercise, but also medication. Psychiatrists are confident that a comprehensive approach, including both psychological help and medications, will help cope with this disorder at a deeper level.

The problem of food addiction continues to be relevant, and in the future, it will receive more and more attention from the medical community. It is important to understand that overeating is not just a weakness of character, but a complex mental disorder that requires a professional approach to treatment.