A new study in the Annals of Internal Medicine offers several treatment avenues for adults suffering from binge eating disorder.
The disorder, which received an official diagnosis in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, is characterized by eating large quantities of food — often very quickly — and feeling unable to stop eating. Those who struggle with it often experience shame and depression.
The three treatments outlined in the new research are the drug Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine), cognitive behavioral therapy and second-generation antidepressants (such as Prozac, Zoloft and Wellbutrin). The study, published June 28, took into account 34 trials involving psychological treatment (and a control group) or medication (and placebo).
“Cognitive-behavioral therapy really gets to the core of the thoughts and feelings that are behind this disorder,” Kimberly Brownley, the study’s lead author, told HealthDay, adding that Vyvanse is the sole Food and Drug Administration-approved binge eating medication.
As with most disorders, treatments vary person to person. “There’s a lot more research to be done,” Brownley added. “But we have provided a good platform for physicians to figure out how to guide their patients’ care.”
In America, approximately 2 percent of men and 3.5 percent of women have binge eating disorder, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that the condition’s average age-of-onset is 25.
Binge eating is not to be confused with bulimia. Those who binge eat are typically obese or overweight, and — unlike bulimics — they don’t purge, over-exercise or fast, according to NIMH.
The Eating Disorder Spectrum — From Pregorexia to Drunkorexia
What to Say and Do If Your Daughter Thinks She’s Fat
More from U.S. News
What to Say and Do If Your Daughter Thinks She’s Fat
The Eating Disorder Spectrum — From Pregorexia to Drunkorexia
How to Find the Best Mental Health Professional for You
How to Treat Binge Eating Disorder originally appeared on usnews.com
