Binge Eating - Compulsive Overeating

Binge Eating - Compulsive Overeating

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then you may be suffering from an eating condition called Binge Eating or Compulsive Overeating.

According to Dr. Valerie Ulene, "While this condition is not officially recognized as a disorder by the American Psychiatric Association, it appears to be more prevalent than other popular disorders such as anorexia and bulimia combined".

A recent study by the Harvard Medical School estimates that, in the United States, roughly 3.5% of women and 2% of men qualify as binge eaters. ^[1]

Kerri Boutelle, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry at UC SanDiego, estimates that roughly 30% of the people in weight loss treatment programs are binge eaters.

 What is Binge or Compulsive Eating?

Binge eating is a destructive cycle where compulsive eating episodes are followed by feelings of deep distress and resolutions to stop bingeing and start dieting.  After a day or two, the resolutions are broken and the compulsive eater is filled with more feelings of guilt, depression and disgust.  Many compulsive overeaters eat healthy during the day or in front of others, but at some point end up bingeing in private. Binge eaters consume large amounts of food while feeling that their eating is out of their control.  The thought of food becomes overwhelming and they eat large amounts of food in secret, often late at night when others are asleep.

Causes of Binge Eating and Compulsive Overeating

No one is quite sure what triggers compulsive eating episodes. The amount of food that is eaten and the duration can vary by individual.  Binge eaters typically do not eat out of hunger, but instead use it as a way to cope with unpleasant feelings, situations, or emotions.  Other possible causes can include depression, anxiety, body image dissatisfaction, genetics, and brain chemical imbalances.

Dr. Valerie Ulene says that "bingeing seems to also be a reaction to attempts to cut back on food." ^[1]  In any case, binge eating causes its victims tremendous distress.

Unlike other eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia, binge eaters do not try to purge the food that they have consumed.  However, similar to anorexia and bulimia, binge eating or compulsive overeating is a disease and it should be medically treated.

Treatment for Binge Eating and Compulsive Overeating

Research indicates that it is more difficult for binge and compulsive eaters to achieve successful weight management.  Those afflicted, not only have a harder time staying the course of weight loss treatment, but are also much more likely to relapse.  As a result, experts argue that treatment of binge eating must be  approached in a different manner than traditional dieting.

Treatment should focus on the binge eating disorder first, and then move on to actual weight loss. According to Dr. James Hudson, Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard's McLean Hospital, "With binge eating, the impulsivity and loss of control must be addressed. Otherwise treatment is sure to be ineffective".

There are several different types of treatments that have shown to be effective for binge eating and compulsive overeating.  These include:

•  Cognitive-behavioral therapy - This type of therapy teaches techniques to monitor binge eating episodes, control the urge to binge eat, and eat a balanced diet - which can help reduce bingeing. Behavioral therapy also teaches how to avoid and deal with the thoughts, behaviors, and cues that trigger binge eating.  It teaches binge eaters how to better cope with stressful situations and thoughts.
• Interpersonal psychotherapy - This type of therapy helps people to look at their relationships with family and friends and identify any connections with binge eating.
• Medications - While there are no FDA-approved medications for binge eating disorder, several drugs have been shown to help some individuals.
• Topamax, an anti-seizure medicine, is sometimes used to help reduce the urge, frequency and severity of bingeing. It can also help with weight loss.
  
• Several antidepressants have been shown to reduce the frequency of binge eating. Antidepressants are also used to treat depression, which often occurs in conjunction with binge eating disorder.
  
• According to a recent study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, Meridia, an appetite suppressant, appears to be effective in helping people with binge eating disorder.
• Self help groups - This type of therapy is often used in addition to individual therapy.  Group therapy may include families, friends or other binge eaters.
  

Sources:

[1] "Out of Control", by Valerie Ulene, special to The Los Angeles Times 

[2] "Compulsive Overeating", by Radar Programs, radarprograms.com