Binge Eating Disorder Treatment

Binge eating disorder treatment varies from person to person, and there is no single method that works in all cases. Common methods used in binge eating disorder treatment include restoring the person to a healthy weight, ending the episodes of binge eating, psychotherapy, nutritional counseling, and, in some cases, medications. Early binge eating disorder treatment is important in helping someone overcome the condition.

 

Binge Eating Disorder Treatment: An Overview

Presently, there is no universally accepted standard binge eating disorder treatment. 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 binge eating disorder 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 binge eating disorder 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, binge eating disorder treatment may be long-term.
 

Strategies Used in Binge Eating Disorder Treatment

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.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD