Binge Eating Disorder Treatment: An Overview
Presently, there is no universally accepted, standard treatment for
binge eating disorder. Because of its complexity, binge
eating disorder requires a comprehensive treatment plan involving medical care and monitoring, psychosocial interventions, nutritional counseling, and, when appropriate, medication management.
Ideally, this integrated approach to treatment would include the skills of nutritionists, mental health professionals, endocrinologists, and other physicians.
Unless malnutrition is severe, any substance abuse problems that may be present at the time of the disorder's diagnosis are usually treated first.
People with binge
eating disorder often do not recognize or admit that they are ill. As a result, they may strongly resist getting and staying in treatment. Family members or other trusted individuals can be helpful in ensuring that the person with
binge eating disorder receives needed care and rehabilitation. For some people, treatment for binge eating disorder may be long-term.
Strategies Used in Treating Binge Eating Disorder
Binge
eating disorder treatment is most successful when the disorder is first diagnosed. The longer abnormal eating behaviors persist, the more difficult it is to overcome the disorder and its effects on the body.
The primary goal of binge eating disorder treatment is to reduce or eliminate binge eating episodes. To this end, nutritional rehabilitation, psychosocial intervention, and medication management strategies are often employed.
