Sometimes people eat to control anxiety in the same way that an alcoholic might drink when anxious. The key to overcoming compulsive eating is to re-learn what hunger is, and to eat in response to the body's hunger signals. When you chronically ignore your hunger, you eventually overeat. When you consistently listen to your hunger, you don't need to overeat because you know that the food will be there whenever you are hungry for it. For compulsive eaters, the keys to recovery are simple, but difficulty to implement.
Compulsive eaters can stop bingeing and learn to accept their bodies.
Eat only when you are physically hungry. When you are physically hungry, eat exactly what you want. Stop eating when you are no longer hungry. Eat slowly, with pleasure, and with attention to your body and its sensations. Many books and other resources are available to help you better understand how to put these principles to work.