The medical community does not completely
agree on the best treatment for binge eating. Medical specialists are more likely first to treat weight control
issues with drugs, diet, and nutrition counseling in
order to reduce the health risks of obesity-related diseases.
Although there are no drugs specifically
approved by the United States Food and Drug
Administration for treating binge-eating disorder,
the FDA has approved selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine (Prozac) and
sertraline (Zoloft) for the treatment of bulimia.
Bulimia
also involves binge-eating behavior. These medications
increase serotonin levels in the brain and are
thought to affect the body’s sense of fullness.
They are
used whether or not the patient shows signs of depression.
SSRIs are often prescribed for people with binge eating
disorder.
Appetitive suppressants are also
sometimes prescribed to help control binge eating.
Treatment is most successful when group therapy
occurs in conjunction with psychotherapy (see Therapies
below).
People with binge-eating disorder understand that
their eating pattern is abnormal and unhealthy. Nutrition
counseling and meal planning can help bring
weight under control, but they do not address the
inability to control the impulse to binge. Nutrition
counseling needs to be part of a broader treatment
program that includes psychotherapy and possibly
drug therapy.
Read more...
Therapy
Prevention
