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Controlling binge eating and weight: a treatment for binge eating disorder worth researching?

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Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The majority of those who seek treatment for binge eating disorder also have accompanying obesity or overweight. The best available psychological treatments for binge eating disorder produce good and lasting outcomes with regard to control over eating but virtually no weight loss, yet control over eating and weight loss are both important and valued goals of those who seek treatment.

Methods

We have devised a model of the processes maintaining both the binge eating and the overweight or obesity that occurs in many patients with binge eating disorder who seek treatment. The model draws on previous research findings to highlight and integrate the factors maintaining both the disordered eating and the accompanying overweight or obesity.

Results

We outline a new treatment based on the proposed model that explicitly addresses the twin goals of cessation of binge eating and weight loss in an integrated fashion. The proposed treatment incorporates and integrates elements from two previously tested evidence-based interventions, enhanced cognitive behavioural therapy for eating disorders shown to reduce binge eating and cognitive behaviour therapy of obesity, which produces weight loss.

Conclusion

To meet a major challenge for the treatment of binge eating disorder (BED), we have proposed that an integrated treatment with the goals of addressing both binge eating and overweight or obesity is worth researching further. Should this treatment be successful, the goals of many patients who seek treatment for BED are more likely to be met.

Level of evidence

This brief report proposes a new approach to clinical practice to be researched further. The evidence on the basis of which the case is made is derived from Level 1: evidence obtained from at least one properly designed randomized controlled trial; systematic reviews and meta-analyses; and experimental studies.

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Funding

No external funding was received for this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, 34 Park Street, New Haven, CT, 06519, USA

    Zafra Cooper

  2. Department of Eating and Weight Disorders, Villa Garda Hospital, Via Montebaldo 89, 1-37016, Garda, VR, Italy

    Simona Calugi & Riccardo Dalle Grave

Authors
  1. Zafra Cooper
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  2. Simona Calugi
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  3. Riccardo Dalle Grave
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zafra Cooper.

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Conflict of interest

Zafra Cooper declares that she has no conflict of interest.Simona Calugi declares that she has no conflict of interest.Riccardo Dalle Grave declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All studies referred to and previously published by the authors involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the relevant institutional committees and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments.

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Informed consent was obtained from all participants.

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Cooper, Z., Calugi, S. & Dalle Grave, R. Controlling binge eating and weight: a treatment for binge eating disorder worth researching?. Eat Weight Disord 25, 1105–1109 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-019-00734-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-019-00734-4

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