It is important that you seek medical advice if you think that you have a binge eating disorder. Your GP will assess you and recommend the best course of treatment for you.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends the following treatments for eating disorders:
- a self-help programme under the supervision of healthcare professionals
- psychological therapy
- a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant (in some cases)
These are described in more detail below.
Self-help programme
A self-help programme is an important part of the treatment process for binge eating. It will look at ways that you can break the binge eating cycle so that you can successfully tackle your binge eating disorder. The programme will be carried out with the support and encouragement of healthcare professionals.
Psychological therapy
People who binge eat are encouraged to stop relying on the cycle of bingeing and guilt as a way of dealing with their emotional problems.
It is possible to make a full recovery from binge eating by using certain types of psychological therapy such as:
- cognitive behavioural therapy for binge eating disorder (CBT-BED) – a specially adapted type of CBT that involves talking to a therapist and working out new ways of thinking about situations, feelings and food
- psychotherapy – regular sessions with a therapist to help you understand what makes you anxious and accept your strengths and weaknesses
- an adapted form of dialectal behaviour therapy (DBT) – you discuss all aspects of your binge eating disorder with a therapist. DBT has been used effectively to treat other mental health disorders, such as borderline personality disorder.
- diet and nutritional advice
See the Health A-Z topics about Cognitive behavourial therapy and Psychotherapy for more information about these psychological therapies.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a type of medication that can help to reduce binge eating.
SSRIs boost levels of a substance called serotonin. When serotonin is released in the brain, it helps to lift your mood. NICE recommends the use of SSRIs to help reduce binge eating, but the long-term effects of the treatment are unknown.
Known side effects of SSRIs include:
- nausea (feeling sick)
- blurred vision
- diarrhoea or constipation
- dizziness
- dry mouth
- feeling agitated or shaky
- insomnia (difficulty sleeping) or feeling very sleepy
- loss of appetite
- sweating
- low sex drive
See the Health A-Z topic about Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for more information.
Losing weight
Although there are a number of psychological treatments available to treat binge eating, they will have a limited effect on your body weight.
However, underlying psychological issues need to be dealt with first if weight loss is to be successful and long-lasting.
If you are overweight, you should follow a weight-loss plan that is drawn up by a healthcare professional, such as your GP or a dietitian (a food and nutrition specialist). The plan may involve:
- eating food that is high in complex carbohydrates, such as brown rice, wholemeal bread and cereal, lentils and potatoes
- eating little and often
See the Health A-Z topic about Diet for more information about maintaining a healthy diet.
