How to Treat Binge Eating Disorder

Types of Treatment for Binge Eating Disorder

Treatment for binge eating disorder (BED) usually begins with psychotherapy but often includes a combination of techniques. The goal is to gain control of your relationship with food using therapy, nutritional counseling, and sometimes medication.

Psychotherapy (or talk therapy) for binge eating disorder

Often, psychotherapy is targeted at treating depression, which is important since research shows us that people with binge eating disorder are 6 times more likely to have depression and 4 times more likely to attempt suicide.

Psychotherapy is usually the first recommended binge eating disorder treatment, as the risks from BED-related depression can be more severe than the physical side effects of BED. Psychotherapy (also known as talk therapy) can help address symptoms and causes of binge eating disorder.

Psychotherapy allows people to identify the aspects of their life that may contribute to their BED-related depression and to deal with the causes effectively. Therapists can work with individuals to identify problems that contribute to their depression and help them set realistic goals for overcoming them. In addition, talk therapy can help people regain a sense of control, lessening the chance of another bout of depression.

Depression can cause someone to feel as if everything is hopeless. Psychotherapy can help change negative thinking patterns like this so someone can achieve a more positive outlook.

How does psychotherapy treat binge eating disorder?

Psychotherapy is commonly the first approach for binge eating disorder treatment, as it can help someone recognize the underlying psychological issues leading them to binge. Once people understand the causes of their binge eating, therapy can help them develop specific coping strategies.

To be successful, BED treatment needs to address the whole person, not just the physical aspects of binge eating disorder. While physical symptoms might be most apparent, the underlying psychological and interpersonal issues need to be addressed to stop the binge eating cycle.

Various types of psychotherapy are successful for people with BED. Everyone with a binge eating disorder is different, however, and what may work for one person may not work as well for another.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most well-researched forms of therapy in treating binge eating disorder. While it’s historically been a treatment for anxiety and depression, its evidence-based model can help people’s negative behaviors around food be restructured toward more productive behaviors.

Interpersonal therapy (IPT)

Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is an evidence-based treatment that focuses on 4 areas:

• Grief
• Interpersonal disputes
• Role transitions
• Interpersonal deficits

People with BED can learn to improve relationships and communication through IPT, effectively reducing their urge to binge eat.

Healthy relationships can relieve BED symptoms because interpersonal dysfunction is linked to increased negative food behaviors. IPT provides a framework for interpersonal conflict resolution, encouraging healthy relationships.

Mindfulness-based eating awareness training (MB-EAT)

Mindfulness-based eating awareness training (MB-EAT) is a group therapy intervention developed for binge eating disorder.

MB-EAT trains those with BED in guided practices designed to control responses to different emotional states. This awareness training helps someone make better, more conscious food choices, cultivate self-acceptance, and develop an understanding of their hunger and satiety cues.

Family therapy

Family therapy includes all family members, not just the person with BED. Treatment includes re-establishing healthy eating, restoring a healthy weight, and interrupting compensatory behaviors. In addition, family therapy helps to return control of eating to the person with BED.

Group therapy

Group therapy is helpful to individuals with binge eating disorder. Other treatments such as medical management, nutritional counseling, and individual therapy are typically used alongside group therapy to get the most benefits as possible.

Sharing binge eating experiences with a group can foster healing, self-understanding, and community building. In addition, group therapy provides a safe, judgment-free space for people with BED to process food-related behaviors without shame.

Medications for binge eating disorder

Sometimes medication for binge eating disorder combined with therapy can offer a viable treatment solution.

How does medication treat binge eating disorder?

Receptors that modulate hunger and satiety are closely intertwined with the receptors that control emotions, behavior, and cognition. Certain medications can address and help with symptoms of BED by targeting the parts of the brain directly related to food behavior.

Types of medication for binge eating disorder

Currently, there are 3 types of medication that may be used for BED, including:

• Antidepressants: They target chemicals in the brain that help control your mood, which may reduce binges. The antidepressant Fluoxetine is one medication approved for BED treatment. Fluoxetine might help control binge-eating episodes by reducing certain cravings.
• Anti-seizure medications: Anti-seizure medications like Topamax can reduce binge eating for many people by reducing impulsiveness.
• Stimulants: Vyvanse is the first FDA-approved off-label medication used to treat moderate-to-severe BED. While its primary use is for treating ADHD, it’s thought to control the impulsivity that leads to binge eating. It also might help reduce distressing thoughts about excess body weight.

Any medication comes with certain risks. Consult your doctor if you’re interested in learning more.

Self-help for binge eating disorder

One strategy for BED treatment is to implement self-help treatments. Self-help may include:

• Monitoring when and what you’re eating so you can recognize and try to change patterns in your eating behavior
• Making realistic meal plans on what to eat and when can help some people control their eating
• Recognizing your triggers, so you can learn the signs and prevent a future binge
• Identifying the underlying emotional causes of binge eating so you can work on your mental health in a positive way
• Finding other ways of coping with your negative feelings, like walking, playing a board game, calling a friend, or pursuing a new hobby
• Understanding how to understand your weight in a healthy way

Nutritional counseling

Many people with BED may struggle with being overweight or obese due to eating abnormally large portions. While it may seem like weight loss is the goal, dieting will not solve any underlying issues with food. Therefore, learning and practicing nutrition basics and how to maintain a healthy relationship with food can be invaluable in your recovery.

Virtually everyone with BED will struggle with fears or unhealthy beliefs about food. Nutritional counseling can support you while providing nutrition education and exploring false eating disorder beliefs, which might overlap with things like traumatic childhood experiences. Treatment will include finding a therapist to help you process and heal from trauma.

Find Treatment for Binge Eating Disorder

Have you or your loved one experienced any of the below binge eating disorder symptoms?

• Compulsive overeating within a short period
• Still eating even while full
• Eating quickly during binge eating episodes
• Eating more than your stomach can hold
• Frequent recurrent binge
• Feeling guilt about eating a lot
• Sporadic diets but without achieving weight loss
• Feeling self-conscious about being a binge eater

If you notice any of the above, you’re not alone. You can find help today. If you’d like to start from the privacy of your own home, you can call, text, or chat with the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) helpline.

In addition, if seeking treatment from the comfort of your personal space appeals to you, you might want to reach out to an online therapy platform like Talkspace. Our experienced therapists are trained and skilled in treating BED.

Regardless of where you start, taking that first step in finding treatment is essential.