Who Gets Binge Eating Disorder?
In the general population, the prevalence of Binge Eating Disorder is estimated to be approximately 3.5% among adult women and 2% among adult men. Binge Eating Disorder is most common among Caucasians, but it is not uncommon in minority populations, including African Americans and Hispanic Americans. People with Binge Eating Disorder are most often overweight or obese, and it may occur in up to 8% of obese adults; however people with Binge Eating Disorder can be of normal weight.
Diagnostic Criteria for Binge Eating Disorder*
- Recurrent episodes of binge eating
- eating, in a discrete period
of time (e.g., within any 2-hour period), an amount of food that is
definitely larger than most people would eat in a similar period of
time under similar circumstances;
- a sense of lack of control over eating during the episode (e.g., a feeling that one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating).
- The binge-eating episodes are associated with three (or more)
of the following:
- eating much more rapidly than normal
- eating until feeling uncomfortably full
- eating large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry
- eating alone because of being embarrassed by how much one is eating
- feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed or very guilty after overeating
- Marked distress regarding binge eating is present
- The binge eating occurs, on average, at least 2 days a week for 6 months
- The binge eating is not associated with the regular use of inappropriate compensatory behaviors (e.g. purging, fasting, excessive exercise) and does not occur exclusively during the course of Anorexia Nervosa or Bulimia Nervosa.
*From American Psychiatric Association (1994). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed)
What Treatment is Available for Binge Eating Disorder?
Outpatient Psychotherapy
Research has found outpatient Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to be useful in treating Binge Eating Disorder. CBT is a structured psychotherapy aimed at helping patients develop a regular pattern of eating and providing psychoeducation about binge eating, nutrition, and exercise. In addition, CBT focuses on increasing interpersonal functioning, targeting body image disturbances as well as issues of control and mood intolerance. Other psychotherapies have also been found to be useful in the treatment of Binge Eating Disorder, such as Interpersonal Psychotherapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy.Medication
Research indicates that medications are often helpful in the treatment of Binge Eating Disorder. The typical focus is on reducing binge eating with such medications as fluoxetine (Prozac®). An additional treatment goal is often weight loss, which is targeted with medications such as sibutramine (Meridia®).Weight Loss Programs
Behavioral weight control programs, in either an individual or a group format, can have beneficial effects in obese individuals with Binge Eating Disorder. Sometimes these programs are used in conjunction with low-calorie or very low-calorie diets.Bariatric Surgery
Long-term studies have not yet been completed, but most studies suggest that, at least in the short term, binge eating tends to resolve following bariatric surgery, such as gastric bypass or laparoscopic adjustable band placement.
Treatment for binge eating disorder is available to overweight men and women ages 18 and older who are interested in participating in research. Treatment includes individual psychotherapy or medication depending upon particular research studies.
For additional information, please contact us.
Phone: 212-543-5151
E-mail:EDRU@pi.cpmc.columbia.edu
