Obsessive Compulsive Disorder And Eating Disorders

There are a number of similarities between the obsessive compulsive disorder and eating disorders. They are both fueled by strong beliefs that do not seem to be in our control. Many researches trying to find common roots in eating disorders and obsessive compulsive disorder have proved inconclusive. However, there have been proven links between the two disorders.

Anorexia and bulimia, two of the most common eating disorders, show 25%-40% cases of obsessive compulsive disorder. The fear of gaining weight is so powerful that the victim binges and purges to stay in shape. There is extreme guilt associated with the act of ingestion. Many times, those who suffer from both disorders have no compulsive behaviors related to their food or body. Evidence does suggest that OCD is likely to occur in a person who has a long history of eating disorders.

In anorexia, for example, the victims are so conscious of the smallest of weight gains that they arrange their life around calorie counting and live in the shadow of it. The obsession in this case can not only be what or how much this person ingests, but also where they eat whatever they are eating and how they eat it.

Research has shown that those who suffer from eating disorders have higher likelihood of perfectionism and overestimation of threats. They also exhibit higher levels of intolerance of new things. There is also enough evidence to suggest that those with eating disorders have higher tendencies to develop obsessive compulsive personality disorders.

It has been established that most people suffering with eating disorders tend to develop obsessive compulsive disorders. However, what is really shocking is that all people who already suffer from eating disorders have higher tendencies of developing obsessive compulsive disorder than their peers who don’t have eating disorders. Also, as time passes, the tendency of those suffering from eating disorders to develop obsessive compulsive disorders increases.