Co-Occurring Disordered Eating Treatment

Co-Occurring Disordered Overeating Eating Signs and Symptoms

Compulsive overeating manifests as the habit of consuming a significant quantity of food in one sitting, regardless of hunger cues. Individuals with this pattern typically do not engage in purging behaviours. This consistent overeating may lead to obesity and related complications.

If you suspect you’re grappling with these signs, keep an eye out for:

• Overeating even when not hungry 
• Consuming until discomfort sets in 
• Opting for junk food, like crisps and chocolate, in excess 
• Experiencing erratic eating routines, such as fasting all day and binging at night Preferring private eating to avoid embarrassment
• Feeling guilt or discomfort after overindulging 
• Noticing reduced fitness and general well-being due to an imbalanced diet 
• Experiencing poor skin and hair condition due to nutritional deficiencies 
• Dealing with emotional challenges, such as stress, anxiety, and depression 
• Feeling isolated socially

Furthermore, compulsive overeating often occurs in private. This can make it challenging to identify and diagnose. If you’re concerned about someone’s eating habits, there are early signs of Disordered Eating you can be mindful of.

What are The Early Signs of Disordered Eating?

One of the common early signs of Co-Occurring Disordered Eating is a preoccupation with food and/or exercise. A person may spend more time speaking about food, looking for recipes online, and cooking and baking for others. You may also notice:

• Precise tracking of energy intake or steps 
• A sudden disinterest in certain food groups 
• An increased interest in different diets or healthy foods

A Regimented Exercise Routine

A person struggling with an eating disorder will often have a disordered relationship with exercise too. If you are concerned that someone is showing the early signs of Disordered Eating, you may have started to become aware of the following:

• Their exercise routines are often very strict and inflexible 
• They display distress if their routine is disrupted or if they can’t train 
• Exercising takes precedence over other elements of their life including health, work and relationships 
• Despite evident tiredness and fatigue, they continue to exercise, even if they’re unwell 
• Exercise is used to work off calories, lose weight or offset an eating binge

An Obsession with Tracking

A person who is developing an unhealthy relationship with food that is organized around restricting is likely to keep track of their food and fitness. This tracking will be strict and regimented, where they monitor some or all of the following:

Over time, tracking food and fitness can prevent people from being able to listen to signals from their bodies. Rather than focusing on what their body wants and needs, they come to rely on rules and restrictions outlined in tracking apps and devices to dictate how they should eat, drink and exercise.

Starting to Use Diet Pills or Laxatives

Studies have shown that using diet pills and laxatives increases the risk of someone developing an eating disorder. The products disrupt the normal functioning of the body and prevent a person from paying attention to their bodily cues.

Low Body Confidence

You may notice that the person is dissatisfied with how they look. They may express this to close family and friends, and they will believe other people see them in the distorted way in which they see themselves.  

Discussing this dissatisfaction is one of the early signs of an eating disorder. However, that can disappear as a person becomes more unwell and tries to hide their thoughts, feelings and behaviours from people who have expressed concern.

Deception

When someone is living with an eating disorder, they will often start to lie to other people about their eating and their exercise in an attempt to maintain control. Some comments and behaviours that you may have started to notice include:

This deception is something that typically worsens over time, as the person attempts to hide what is going on from other people.

Changes in Mood

When someone is struggling with an eating disorder this can impact their mood. They may become irritable and angry more quickly than usual, and they may also seem sad and reserved.

These mood changes can happen for a number of reasons. If the person is restricting the amount of food that they eat, nutritional deficiencies may mean they have less control over their emotional regulation.

They may also become more irritable or angry when the conversation turns to their food intake and exercise, as they are likely to feel criticized. Someone who has an eating disorder is also likely to struggle with their self-esteem and body confidence. This in turn can cause them to feel upset and low in mood.

Discover Our Dedicated Centers

Our extensive network spans two continents, ensuring that you have convenient access to disordered eating support. Both The Cabin and Sandhurst Manor stand as exclusive havens, providing world-class care tailored to both addiction and eating disorder treatment. With The Cabin, you’re enveloped in a secure and supportive environment.

Embrace Recovery at The Cabin

At The Cabin, we offer a diverse range of disordered eating treatment programmes and therapy formats designed to empower you on your road to healing. Our array of treatment programmes ranges from outpatient, daycare, and inpatient options for both addiction and disordered eating, providing you with a comprehensive toolkit for recovery. 

Your journey towards healing is filled with potential and promise. Together, we’ll help you regain your strength, rediscover balance, and embrace a future marked by vibrant well-being.

Exploring Ways to Support Your Journey Towards Healing

Taking the brave step to seek help for your disordered eating is a significant stride towards recovery. Once you’ve reached out to The Cabin, a series of gentle assessments will help us understand your needs. This isn’t about formalities; it’s about understanding your unique situation. Together with our compassionate admissions team, you’ll shape a path that suits you best:

Remember, this is a journey shaped around you – a path towards a brighter, healthier future. You’re not alone, and together, we’ll find the path that brings you comfort and healing.