Psychological problems

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends the following treatments for eating disorders:

• a self-help programme, under the supervision of healthcare professionals,
• psychological therapy (see below), and/or
• a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant, in some cases.

For more information, go to the NICE guidelines page.

Psychological therapy

People who binge eat are encouraged to stop relying on the cycle of bingeing and guilt as a way of dealing with emotional problems. It is possible to recover fully from binge eating with certain forms of therapy, such as:

• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT): talking to a therapist and working out new ways of thinking about situations, feelings and food.
• Self-help and support groups: listed in the Useful links section.
• Psychotherapy: Regular sessions with a therapist to help you understand what makes you anxious and accept your strengths and weaknesses, and
• Diet and nutritional advice.

Go to the A-Z topics on Cognitive Behavourial Therapy and Pyschotherapy for more information.

Losing weight

Usually, underlying psychological issues need to be dealt with first if weight loss is to be successful and lasting.

People who are overweight should follow a weight-loss plan drawn up by a healthcare professional. This will involve eating food high in complex carbohydrates and eating little and often.