Binge eating is a disorder characterized by consuming a significant amount of food on a regular basis. The size of a binge eater is no obvious indication that they have the disorder. According to the Mayo Clinic, binge eaters can be normal weight or they can be heavy. Several agencies offer services to help binge eaters cope with their disorder.
Treatments
There are several ways to treat a binge eating disorder, including psychotherapy, medication and weight loss programs. Psychotherapy sessions can help identify root causes of binge eating to help patients understand better control behavior that may lead to overeating. Psychiatrists may also recommend medications such as antidepressants to treat the underlying causes of binge eating, which can help regulate the parts of the brain that control mood. For binge eaters who are obese, weight-loss programs can help promote good nutritional habits, but may not treat the emotional and psychological triggers related to overeating.
Overeaters Anonymous
Overeaters Anonymous (OA.org) helps binge eaters regulate their lives through a 12-step program. OA's goal is to not just treat the physical symptoms of binge eating, but to examine the root causes of the disorder. Similar to the 12 steps featured in Alcoholic Anonymous, the OA 12 steps include admitting you have a disorder, believing in a higher power to aid you in your recovery, making a list of people you have hurt because of your disorder and trying to make amends to each one, and asking God to rid you of your faults. OA allows binge eaters to access its website to find meeting locations in their area, and also offers online and phone meetings. All services are free.
Eating Disorders Anonymous
Eating Disorders Anonymous (EatingDisordersAnonymous.org) also helps binge eaters recover. EDA has no fees or membership requirements other than the desire to get well. EDA's website lists face to face meetings, online meetings and phone meetings designed to help binge eaters obtain the help they need. There are meetings in more than 35 states, including California, Florida, Michigan, New York, Washington and Georgia. The program offers discussion and step study meetings, newcomer meetings, discussion and speaker meetings, closed meetings -- only people with eating disorders may attend -- and open meetings that anyone can attend. It employs the 12 step method, and each member of a meeting group receives a sponsor to help him work through the steps to recovery.
A Weigh Out
A Weigh Out (AWeighOut.com) offers services to help people who suffer from emotional eating, compulsive eating, food addictions and binge eating. Services include telephone coaching, membership in the organization's online community of empowerment groups, forums, chat rooms and blogs, psychotherapy -- which is only available for people who live in Cincinnati -- and a free telephone seminar. A Weigh Out charges fees for its services and is based on a system developed by Ellen Shuman, a life coach and former binge eater featured in several national magazines for her work. Some of A Weigh Out's core beliefs are that healthy people are not always slim, diets are not suitable for emotional eaters and that someone can overcome binge eating improving emotional, nutritional, spiritual and physical health.
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