Compulsive eating is a disease, not a matter of character, and I have it. When I consume certain ingredients, they have the effect of creating a craving, and I want more and more. I have no idea when I will stop eating. For me, these trigger ingredients are white flour, sugar, dairy, high-fat foods, and nuts. For many people, the trigger is simply sugar and white flour, because it varies from person to person. In the case of one person whom I sponsor, it is only white flour. Sugar does not trigger her. She doesn’t like sugar.
If we avoid our trigger ingredients completely, we do not trigger this allergy of the body. But for those of us who are real compulsive eaters, something in our heads sends us to these foods, over and over and over again. For a real compulsive eater, it is human emotions, and not only when we are feeling resentments and fears, but even when things are going well for us. Food is the drug that brings us ease and comfort after taking a few bites, just as for an alcoholic, ease and comfort comes “at once after taking just a few drinks.” [AA's Big Book]
We know that obesity is an epidemic. Most of us who do not have a normal-size body try everything we can think of to lose the excess weight. We lose a little, sometimes a lot, and put it back on, over and over and over again. We wonder, what is wrong with us? Why can we not exercise the willpower to lose the excess weight? We know the excess pounds not only affect our appearance but also lead to deadly diseases. Most of us have used willpower to succeed in careers and in other endeavors, but when it comes to controlling our eating, we cannot get anywhere. In fact, over the years we gain more and more weight.