Treatment of Binge Eating Disorder

Bulimia

Treatment of Binge Eating Disorder

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

World authority on eating disorders, Christopher Fairburn, states that cognitive-behavior therapy “helps the great majority of people with binge eating problems. It has been studied at most major research centers – in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia and New Zealand – with equivalent positive results. No other treatment has proved as successful.”

What is cognitive-behavioral therapy? At its heart, it aims to eliminate wrong attitudes towards food and the body (cognitive), and to instill healthy food habits in the participant (behavioral). Originally designed to be undertaken one-on-one with a councilor, the program has since been adapted so that it can be used by an individual, or even in a group situation. Many sufferers report success moving through the program all on their own.

The first stage of the program is perhaps the most complex. First, the participant is simply asked to record all their eating. Next, regular mealtimes and eating patterns are introduced. Education in the program stresses this regularity, as well as providing solid, factual information about food and nutrition. Many programs also educate the participant about the true variety of body shapes, and about what constitutes a healthy body. Finally, each program will aim to give the participant a set of alternative activities, that can be done when the urge to eat hits.

For stage two, the most important step is the introduction of ‘forbidden’ foods, such as cake or ice cream, back into the diet. This may sound strange, but the message for sufferers needs to be that all food is okay – in moderation. The intention of cognitive-behavioral therapy is to promote a healthy attitude towards food. If no foods are forbidden, then there need not be any guilt. The goal is to shatter the all-or-nothing perfectionism of many sufferers.

Stage two of the program also gets the participant thinking about how to deal with difficult situations that might cause a relapse. Participants learn about relaxation, and other techniques for dealing with pressure. Finally, participants will consider what caused the disorder for them in the first place. Negative thinking patterns are identified here, so that they might be swatted down should a relapse appear.

Finally, stage three has participants make a plan for their future. By this time, many participants report a resurfacing of their old personalities and goals, and a basic plan is not difficult to write.

Binge Eating Disorder is Not Chemical Addiction

It is important to understand that binge eating disorder is not equivalent to a chemical addiction like alcoholism and smoking. Clearly, you cannot tell a binge eater to ‘abstain’ from eating. A binge eating problem comes from unhealthy attitudes to food and the body. Cognitive-behavioral therapy has such success because it focuses on the benefits of moderation across all food groups. It is vital for sufferers to understand that ice cream, cake, chocolate and cookies are all perfectly alright, as long as they are eaten in moderation, and as part of a regular meal.