Bodies

Overeating is an eating disorder that has similar characteristics to other eating disorders (eg. anorexia and bulimia).

That is, it involves an obsession with food to a degree that a person's health, relationships and daily activities are adversely affected. It is not a psychiatric disorder but quite often a reaction to stresses in a person's life. These stresses can be things like anxiety, depression, loneliness, emotional pain and unhappiness.

Food is therefore seen as a comfort to ease some of the troubles a young person may be facing. Overeating can lead to obesity, which is where someone eats more than their body can use. They often eat more food and eat it more quickly than most other people. This often leads to people feeling unattractive and can also lead to teasing and harassment at school or by their peers.