How can family and friends help someone with binge eating disorder?
Binge eating disorder is a serious, life-threatening eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food in a short period of time followed by feelings of shame, guilt, and embarrassment. While anyone can develop binge eating disorder, it is more common in women and typically begins in adolescence or young adulthood.
If you have a loved one with binge eating disorder, you may feel helpless and uncertain of how to best support them. Here are some ways you can help:
1.Educate yourself about the disorder
The more you know about binge eating disorder, the better equipped you will be to support your loved one. There are many resources available online and at your local library.
2.Be supportive and non-judgmental
Many people with binge eating disorder feel ashamed and embarrassed about their disorder. It is important to be supportive and non-judgmental. Avoid making comments about their eating or weight.
3.Encourage your loved one to seek professional help
Binge eating disorder is a serious, life-threatening disorder that requires professional treatment. Encourage your loved one to see a mental health professional or seek treatment at a specialized eating disorder treatment center.
4.Offer to go with them to appointments
If your loved one is seeing a mental health professional or dietitian, offer to go with them to appointments. This can help them feel more comfortable and supported.
5.Be supportive of their treatment
If your loved one is in treatment, be supportive of their treatment plan. This may include attending weekly therapy sessions and/or following a meal plan.
6.Help them to develop healthy coping skills
Many people with binge eating disorder turn to food to cope with difficult emotions. Help your loved one to develop healthy coping skills, such as taking a walk, journaling, or talking to a friend.
7.Encourage them to eat regular meals
People with binge eating disorder often skip meals or go long periods of time without eating. This can make their disorder worse. Encourage your loved one to eat regular, balanced meals.
8.Make sure they are getting enough sleep
People with binge eating disorder are often sleep deprived. This can make their disorder worse. Encourage your loved one to get enough sleep by setting a regular bedtime and avoiding caffeine and screen time before bed.
9. Help them to find an enjoyable activity
People with binge eating disorder often have difficulty finding activities that they enjoy. Help your loved one to find an activity that they can look forward to, such as playing a sport, taking a dance class, or hiking.
10. model healthy eating habits
If you have healthy eating habits, it can help your loved one to develop healthy habits as well. Modeling healthy behaviors can make it easier for them to make changes in their own life..View Source
What are the success rates for overcoming binge eating disorder?
It’s estimated that about 1.6% of American adults have binge eating disorder (BED), according to the National Institute of Mental Health. And of those affected, only about 20% seek professional help. But this doesn’t mean that overcoming BED is impossible—far from it. With treatment, which may include therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes, many people with BED are able to successfully manage their disorder and live happy, healthy lives.
While there isn’t a ton of research on the success rates of overcoming BED specifically, one study published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders found that 54% of participants no longer met the criteria for binge eating disorder after completing a treatment program.
Treatment for BED often includes some combination of therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most common forms of therapy used to treat BED. This type of therapy focuses on changing the thoughts and behaviors that contribute to disordered eating patterns.
Medication may also be used to treat BED. The most common type of medication used is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which are antidepressants that can help to regulate mood and curb binge eating behaviors.
Finally, lifestyle changes, such as adopting a healthy diet and exercise routine, can also be helpful in managing BED. These changes can help to improve overall mental and physical health, and can make it easier to stick to treatment.
Overall, with treatment, many people with BED are able to overcome their disorder and live happy, healthy lives.
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