Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Binge Eating Disorder

Eating disorders are a well-known and well-publicized category of psychological disorders in Mansfield and elsewhere. When most people think of eating disorders, they think of anorexia nervosa, a disease characterized by fasting, highly restrictive diets, and distorted body image; or bulimia nervosa, a similar disorder characterized by alternating periods of binge eating and purgative activities, such as forced vomiting or laxative abuse. However, eating disorders come in other forms as well. One eating disorder that is decidedly common, but can be easily overlooked, is binge eating disorder, BED. Similar to individuals with bulimia nervosa, people with binge eating disorder engage in episodes of binge eating, but they do not engage in attempts to compensate for the overeating by purging or fasting. As in other eating disorders, people with BED experience significant emotional distress and negative self-image in relation to food and eating, and are often abnormally preoccupied with issues of body weight and size. BED is a serious disorder that causes significant emotional distress, as well as being highly correlated with obesity. Evidence suggests that for many people with BED in Mansfield and across the nation, cognitive behavioral therapy may be a highly effective approach to treating this condition.

Signs and Symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder

To be formally diagnosed with binge eating disorder, all of the following DSM-V criteria must be present:

·         Each binge involves eating considerably more food than a normal person would generally consume in that same time frame; it is also accompanied by a feeling of loss of control.

·         Episodes of binge eating occur at least twice a week, for six consecutive months

·         Binge eating is not associated with inappropriate compensatory behaviors, such as fasting or purging

·         The binge eating causes the person to worry

In addition to these four criteria, three of the following criteria must also be present:

·         The person feels disgusted, depressed, or guilty after an episode of binge eating

·         The person eats an unusually large amount of food at one time

·         The person eats more quickly than normal during a binge

·         The person eats to the point of feeling uncomfortable and nauseous due to the amount of food consumed

·         The person eats when they are bored or depressed

·         The person eats large amounts of food when they’re not hungry

·         During periods of normal eating, the person often eats alone due to guilt and shame about eating

Treating Binge Eating Disorder with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Studies indicate that for many people with binge eating disorder, cognitive behavioral therapy is an effective mode of managing this disorder. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses goal-oriented procedures to address dysfunctional ways of feeling and thinking that contribute to maladaptive behavior patterns. Pathological binge eating behaviors are often associated with negative thoughts and emotions. For example, the person’s binging, which they feel they have little control over, causes them to feel guilty and ashamed, thus contributing to negative self-image and poor self-esteem as well as physical problems with weight and obesity. Negative emotional states, like depression or stress, may also contribute to the binging behavior. People suffering from BED may also experience negative, ruminating thoughts that reinforce poor self-image and low self-esteem.

Cognitive behavioral therapy in Mansfield and elsewhere can help people with binge eating disorder in the following ways:

·         Recognize underlying emotions and thought processes that trigger them to binge

·         Reassess their reasons for thinking and feeling this way

·         Learn strategies to stop themselves from engaging in the binging behavior

·         Cultivate a more realistic and positive self-image