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Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a popular therapeutic approach for many different mental health conditions, including a number of eating disorders.
Increasingly, the technique is being explored as a way to treat binge eating disorder (BED), and CBT for binge eating disorder is being found to have many benefits.
The way cognitive behavioral therapy works is all in the name. The idea is to help someone change their actions (behaviors) by helping change the way they think (cognitive function). By changing either or both, the person can also modify their feelings since CBT is built on the notion that thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are all interconnected.
The core concept behind CBT is that disordered behaviors are borne of disordered thoughts. Hence, the therapy focuses on helping patients learn to recognize their unhelpful thoughts and then work to stop, redirect, or disrupt these thinking patterns in order to support healthier behaviors and feelings.1
The hope is that, eventually, these changes will become more natural and sustainable, with CBT offering tools to help replace unhelpful thoughts with healthier coping mechanisms and ways to think.1
Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the most highly-tested psychological treatments, and many adaptations to the technique have been developed in order to help treat more specific issues, including eating disorders like bulimia nervosa (BN) and BED.
CBT is typically a highly structured therapy consisting of a predetermined number of sessions. Throughout these sessions, a patient and therapist will discuss ongoing issues, identify outcome goals, and work to achieve these goals through a combination of techniques.
Of course, CBT sessions aren't limited to these strategies. Specific treatment plans are developed to help patients find the best ways to resolve their particular challenges. However, cognitive behavioral therapy is generally very effective and sometimes considered the "gold standard" of psychological treatments.3
There are many approaches to help someone manage the painful and disordered thoughts and behaviors involved with binge eating disorder. When it comes to CBT and binge eating disorder, the idea is to disrupt the "diet-binge cycle" that often powers BED eating habits.4
The concept focuses on the fact that many people with binge eating disorder attempt to restrict their food intake more often than not and that this deprivation is what leads to the loss of control involved in binge eating episodes.4
Instead, patients receiving CBT for binge eating disorder are encouraged to adopt more structured eating patterns along with healthier weight-control behaviors that allow for more flexibility and forgiveness with oneself.4
Therapists also help patients work through negative feelings associated with their self-worth, body shape, and body weight.4
Again, when using cognitive behavioral therapy for binge eating, many different strategies can be utilized to help stop binge eating behaviors. But some specific techniques may include:1
Patients may also be given "homework assignments" to further encourage recovery at home, such as:
Cognitive behavioral therapy is generally considered one of the most successful treatment options for a number of mental health conditions.3 This is also the case with binge eating disorder.
In one of the most extensive studies involving the subject, as many as 79% of patients receiving CBT for binge eating disorder were no longer showing binge eating behaviors after 20 weeks of sessions, and 59% were still in successful recovery one year after completing therapy.4
Further studies have shown that CBT is far more helpful than no treatment at all, and some suggest the technique may also boost the effectiveness of some pharmacological treatments.4
Along with being one of the most widely-tested therapeutic methods, CBT is also one of the most widely available, being offered as part of:
CBT for binge eating can also be practiced through outpatient, inpatient/ residential, or day programs. And it's also possible to practice virtually.
Disclaimer about "overeating": Within Health hesitatingly uses the word "overeating" because it is the term currently associated with this condition in society, however, we believe it inherently overlooks the various psychological aspects of this condition which are often interconnected with internalized diet culture, and a restrictive mindset about food. For the remainder of this piece, we will therefore be putting "overeating" in quotations to recognize that the diagnosis itself pathologizes behavior that is potentially hardwired and adaptive to a restrictive mindset.
Disclaimer about weight loss drugs: Within does not endorse the use of any weight loss drug or behavior and seeks to provide education on the insidious nature of diet culture. We understand the complex nature of disordered eating and eating disorders and strongly encourage anyone engaging in these behaviors to reach out for help as soon as possible. No statement should be taken as healthcare advice. All healthcare decisions should be made with your individual healthcare provider.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a highly structured form of therapy. Usually, there are a predetermined number of sessions during which a therapist and patient will work together to identify unhealthy patterns, set goals, and work to create positive and lasting change. Patients commonly have "take home" assignments and are taught relapse prevention strategies to help them stay on track after leaving the program.1
CBT for binge eating disorder is a version of cognitive behavioral therapy that's tailored to help with common challenges involved in BED. It works to help patients establish healthier eating patterns and develop a greater sense of self-worth.
Yes. In one of the most significant studies to date on CBT and binge eating disorder, up to 79% of patients with BED had stopped experiencing binge eating behavior after 20 weeks of therapy. At a year follow-up, that number was still as high as 59%.8
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