Can CBT help with Binge Eating Disorder?

Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is a real and serious mental illness characterised by loss of control and overeating on a regular basis; it’s also a significant cause of obesity in the UK. While many people are still unfamiliar with the term, it’s thought to affect between 1 and 5% of the population. BED is often the result of a poor psychological relationship with food, and the best treatments for it are always therapeutic. Recognising your unhealthy behaviours as Binge Eating Disorder is the first step to getting better.

What causes Binge Eating Disorder?

Binge Eating Disorder (BED) can have different root causes, though it often begins in childhood or adolescence. There is a strong correlation between binge eating and depression, as well as low self-confidence. Binge eating can also be triggered by a cycle of what we call ‘yo-yo dieting’; when people cut calories too quickly, the urge to overeat can become overwhelming and lead to binge eating. When binge eating happens regularly, it becomes a Binge Eating Disorder.

How does CBT help Binge Eating Disorder?

CBT stands for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, a talking therapy which is all about changing the way you think in order to change the way you behave. Because BED is a disorder rooted so deeply in psychology, the most effective treatments for it are always going to be psychological. If your binge eating is caused by depression, it may be a good idea to start therapy for depression. But by the time your binge eating becomes so regular it is classified as Binge Eating Disorder, it is a problem separate from your depression and requires a separate solution.

Studies have demonstrated that CBT is much more effective than medication in helping subjects to control their eating behaviour. CBT can teach you to take back control of your own body, and to change your binge eating behaviours by recognising the triggers that catalyse a binge episode and giving you the tools to interrupt those triggers and avoid the episode. Triggers can be anything from feeling down or anxious to simply walking past your favourite takeaway. CBT may sound like hard work, but with enough practice, your new, healthier behaviours will replace your old binging behaviours, and the techniques you have learned through CBT will become second nature.

As a health psychologist, I can help you to break the cycle of binge eating with CBT techniques, Virtual Reality Therapy and Biofeedback. I can help you assess how your mood affects your eating habits, and you will cultivate a positive health behaviour change to manage binge eating disorder.