Treatment Options for Binge Eating Disorder: Exploring Therapies and Medications
Binge eating disorder (BED) is a serious condition that requires treatment. Fortunately, BED is highly treatable, and recovery is likely. This article aims to provide an overview of the resources, therapies, and medications available for those living with BED.
Firstly, joining support groups can be a valuable first step. The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) forums, Eating Disorders Resources Center, and Eating Disorder Foundation are just a few examples of resources offering support groups for individuals dealing with BED. Connecting with others who understand the challenges of BED offers the chance to give and receive support and most importantly, remember that you're not alone. Consider joining an online forum or a virtual support group.
The first-line treatment for BED is usually cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Enhanced CBT (CBT-E), a specific form of CBT, has been shown to be particularly effective in treating BED. It helps identify triggers for binge eating episodes and teaches coping mechanisms. Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is another effective treatment for BED that focuses on exploring the link between relationships and symptoms.
When done with guidance and support from a healthcare professional who specializes in disordered eating, some self-help strategies can be somewhat beneficial. These include the Health At Every Size (HAES) approach, intuitive eating, learning to process emotions, and finding enjoyable physical activities. The HAES approach emphasizes the importance of helping people cultivate healthy, joyful, genuinely nourishing habits, focusing on celebrating body diversity, finding joy in movement, and eating in a flexible and attuned way that values pleasure and honors internal cues of hunger, feelings of fullness, and appetite. Intuitive eating is a self-care eating framework that integrates instinct, emotion, and rational thought.
Medication may also be helpful in treating BED, but it is rarely effective on its own. Antidepressants, such as fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), fluvoxamine (Luvox), citalopram (Celexa), and escitalopram (Lexapro), are often used to treat BED. Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse), a stimulant, has been approved by the FDA to treat moderate to severe BED. Topiramate (Topamax), an anticonvulsant, is recommended as a treatment for BED and has been shown to decrease binge eating frequency, increase abstinence from binge eating, and reduce eating-related obsessions and compulsions.
However, it's critical to have a thorough discussion with your doctor about the medication being prescribed, including concerns and questions about side effects, possible interactions, and anything else you want to know. Common side effects of lisdexamfetamine include dry mouth, insomnia, anxiety, irritability, dizziness, diarrhea, constipation, increased heart rate, and common side effects of SSRIs include insomnia, drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth, sweating, upset stomach, and sexual dysfunction.
After completing inpatient treatment, individuals may attend an outpatient program at an eating disorder facility, which may include various therapies such as individual therapy, group therapy, and nutrition counseling, several times a week for several hours. For most people with BED, outpatient treatment is best, but residential or inpatient treatment may be necessary in certain cases, such as severe depression or anxiety, thoughts of suicide, severe BED, or when other treatments have not helped.
It's essential to remember that BED is often misunderstood and mistakenly believed to be a character flaw or caused by a lack of willpower. In reality, BED is a complex and treatable condition. Taking the first step is up to you. It could be as simple as joining an online support group. This small action may help give you the confidence to reach out for counseling next. The good news is that there are many treatment options and resources available to those living with BED.
