Binge-Eating Disorder: General Information

Binge-eating disorder (BED) is characterized by recurrent binge-eating episodes not followed by the regular use of compensatory behaviours. For a diagnosis of BED, these episodes are to occur at least once a week over 3 months and be accompanied by significant distress. Recent data on BED indicates a lifetime prevalence of 0.42% in men and 1.25% in women, 0.85% overall. While it does occur in normal-weight individuals, BED is more prevalent in those with higer weight. It frequently coexists with various psychological problems (e.g., overvaluation of shape and weight in about 50% of cases), mental disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety, substance use, and impulse control issues), and general medical conditions (e.g., cardiometabolic diseases). Psychological treatments, such as cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), can induce remission in approximately 50–55% of patients with BED. Nonetheless, their impact on weight loss is limited, especially in cases in which BED is associated with clinical obesity. Pharmacological interventions for anxiety and depression have some efficacy in reducing BED symptoms. However, while certain drugs demonstrate promise, they often have significant side effects. Recognizing the need for a treatment to address both binge-eating episodes and the related psychopathology, while also achieving clinically significant weight loss when indicated, a novel approach named “CBT for BED” has been developed. CBT for BED integrates strategies and procedures from enhanced CBT for eating disorders and personalized CBT for obesity.