How and Why of Binge Eating Disorder Treatment

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College girl smiling into the camera

Most Common Eating Disorder

Binge eating disorder (BED) is the most common eating disorder in the US and it affects 3.5% of women and 2% of men. [1] In fact, it is more common than the other two frequently referenced eating disorders of anorexia or bulimia. [2]

Left untreated, it often leads to guilt and a lifelong tormented relationship with food and one’s body.

It is important to take this personal struggle with binge eating seriously and to respect your need for help. This is not just a weight battle, or an over affinity for food – this is a DSMV diagnosable disease that has treatment protocols which sufferers deserve to benefit from.

To determine if you are likely suffering from Binge Eating Disorder, consider the DSMV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Edition 5) list of symptoms – if 3 or more of these describes your behavior with food, you may want to speak with your doctor or therapist about it:

  • Eating until uncomfortably full
  • Recurring binge eating episodes
  • Eating faster than normal
  • Eating though not hungry
  • Feelings of shame or disgust after eating
  • Upset and concerned about the overeating pattern
  • Not purging or engaging in other compensatory behaviors [3]

Two recently interviewed binge eating disorder sufferers provided significant insight into what a struggle with BED is like on a daily basis. Consider the following:

Daniel

Daniel is a likable, 42-year-old, married, father of two small children. He works in banking and has frequently changed jobs due to stress and burn out.

He has struggled with binge eating since his college years, when he found that mass quantities of carbohydrates and sugar (pizza, chips, cookies, ice cream, etc) helped him to relax after late nights of studying under pressure for paper deadlines and exams.

20 years later, he still finds himself drawn to these familiar and comforting binge foods late at night, once his day has ended and he can finally relax in front of the television.

He is discouraged and upset that he continues to engage in the most common eating disorder, binging, night after night, when each morning he awakens feeling bloated, hung over and determined to change and commit to a healthier lifestyle.

Helen

Group of people with hands in middle fighting the Most Common Eating Disorder, BEDHelen has fallen prey to the most common eating disorder. She is a quiet, 30-year-old, single, teacher’s assistant who prefers her books and time alone with her animals to social outings. She has been overweight since 3rd grade and comes from a family of binge eating disorder sufferers.

It is common for Helen to carry a purse full of chips and candy with her to work. Helen will often shut herself away in her car on her breaks and rapidly eat as much as she can before returning to work with the school children.

She also tends to have large binges during her rather reclusive weekends holed up alone in her apartment. She is embarrassed about her struggle with food and wants to change, but feels she has always failed to get a handle on her binge eating problem.

Team Treatment

In both these cases, treatment by a physician, therapist, and nutritionist would be ideal. It is particularly helpful when the professionals helping the binge eating disorder sufferer work together as a team and communicate regularly.

Daniel and Helen would both benefit from a physical and blood work to gauge their current health and any co-occurring physical or emotional issues that might be contributing to their binge eating behavior.

Lady bingeing on foodFrom the nutritionist, they would also have an opportunity to learn about nutrition and familiarize themselves with their bodies natural hunger and fullness indicators the therapist could provide them with empirically supported eating disorder treatment methodologies such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Dialectic Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Interpersonal Therapy(IPT).[4]

These therapeutic tools would be very helpful in building their coping skills, emotional discomfort tolerance, and interpersonal relationship skills.

By therapeutically addressing underlying issues, both Daniel and Helen would be empowered to make healthier lifestyle choices and begin to choose new ways to soothe, express and nurture themselves.

BED Treatment is imperative. If you are concerned about your binge eating, reach out to your doctor, therapist or nutritionist and discuss your behaviors and feelings about your binge eating.

Seek help from BED experienced professionals who understand how to effectively manage BED and assist you in reclaiming your healthy relationship with food and weight.

Sources:

1. Hudson, J.I., Hiripi, E., Pope, H.G. et al. (2007)The prevalence and correlates of eating disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Biol.Psychiatry, 61, 348–358.
2. Grilo, C. M., White, M. A., & Masheb, R. M. (n.d.). DSM-IV Psychiatric Disorder Comorbidity and Its Correlates in Binge Eating Disorder. Retrieved February 04, 2016, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3666349/
3. American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
4. Binge Eating Disorder | National Eating Disorders Association. (n.d.). Retrieved February 04, 2016, from https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/binge-eating-disorder

About the author:

Jacquelyn EkernJacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC – Founder & Director

Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC founded Eating Disorder Hope in 2005, driven by a profound desire to help those struggling with anorexia, bulimia and binge-eating disorder. This passion resulted from her battle with, and recovery from, an eating disorder. As president, Jacquelyn manages Ekern Enterprises, Inc. and the Eating Disorder Hope website. In addition, she is a fully licensed therapist with a closed private counseling practice specializing in the treatment of eating disorders.

Jacquelyn has a Bachelor of Science in Human Services degree from The University of Phoenix and a Masters degree in Counseling/Psychology, from Capella University. She has extensive experience in the eating disorder field including advanced education in psychology, participation and contributions to additional eating disorder groups, symposiums, and professional associations. She is a member of the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA), Academy of Eating Disorders (AED), the Eating Disorders Coalition (EDC) and the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (iaedp).

Jacquelyn enjoys art, working out, dogs, reading, painting and time with family.
Although Eating Disorder Hope was founded by Jacquelyn Ekern, this organization would not be possible without support from our generous sponsors.

The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.

We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.

Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on May 28, 2019