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Binge eating disorder (BED) is a troublesome and difficult condition to treat. After all, everyone has to eat – it’s just a matter of eating the right way, the right foods, and the right amounts. However, that’s exactly what makes treating BED so hard – everyone has to eat.
Addiction, on the other hand, is often seen as a disease of “more.” More drugs, more alcohol, and more money. To combat the disease of “more,” people generally promote abstinence – or sobriety. People can’t quite stay abstinent from food, which is what makes the relationship between binge eating and substance abuse so complex.
What is Binge Eating Disorder (BED)?
Binge eating disorder (BED) is an eating disorder that is characterized by episodes of binging. Binging is the act of eating extremely large quantities of food, usually to the point of discomfort.
According to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), an episode of binge eating meets these two criteria:[1]
- Eating a larger amount of food in a certain amount of time that is excessive when compared to what other people would eat in the same amount of time and under the same circumstances.
- Feeling a lack of control over the eating episode.
Other symptoms of binge eating disorder include:
- Eating faster than normal
- Eating large quantities of food even when not hungry
- Not stopping eating until one feels uncomfortably full or sick
- Eating alone to avoid embarrassment and judgment or appearing uncomfortable when eating around others
- Feeling disgusted, guilty, or depressed after the eating episode
- Going on frequent diets or showing extreme concern with one’s body weight, shape, and image
- Practicing fad diets
- Hiding food or food wrappers in one’s room to avoid being caught binging
In order for a person to be diagnosed with BED, they must have an average of at least 3 episodes of binge eating per month.
Left untreated, binge eating can lead to low self-esteem, weight gain, fluctuations in weight, gastrointestinal problems, and even mental health issues and behavioral issues like substance abuse.
How Substance Abuse Affects Binge Eating
Binge eating and addiction are similar in the way that both drug and food binges are typically followed by feelings of guilt, remorse, depression, and anxiety. However, people who abuse substances may attempt to cover up these feelings by using drugs that alter the way that they feel.
Since drug and alcohol abuse changes the brain on a chemical level, it can make it difficult for people to process emotions and make good decisions. This can lead to poor decision-making regarding food. For instance, people who abuse marijuana may get the “munchies.” This is because marijuana is known to increase appetite in some users and can lead to episodes of binging.
People who abuse substances may also be at a higher risk of complications associated with binge eating. Not only do substances damage the body and lower the immune system, making people more susceptible to infection, but many substances abused by people with BED (such as diuretics or appetite suppressants) can negatively interact with the very medications that are used to treat BED in the first place.
Co-occurring binge eating and substance abuse can lead to a variety of medical complications, such as gastrointestinal problems, high blood pressure, and heart problems. These individuals may also be more likely to see extreme fluctuations in their weight due to their episodes of binge eating and drug or alcohol use.
How Binge Eating Can Perpetuate Substance Abuse
People with binge eating disorder may intentionally abuse substances that suppress their appetite. Stimulants, both prescription and illicit, are widely known to decrease appetite, increase metabolism, and lead to weight loss. Since many people with BED believe they are overweight or want to stop eating so much, some may use stimulant drugs, like Adderall, meth, or cocaine, to get rid of their food cravings.[2]
Even though stimulants may decrease appetite, they do so at an extremely high cost. Stimulant abuse can lead to addiction, paranoia, psychosis, overdose, and other severe health problems. Furthermore, stimulant abuse tends to perpetuate risk-taking behaviors, anxiety, and recklessness – all symptoms that can be harmful to a person’s well-being and counterproductive to BED recovery.
Another substance that people with BED may abuse is alcohol. Unlike drugs, alcohol is a liquid that contains calories. People with eating disorders may decide to try and get their calories from alcohol rather than food in order to restrict their food intake.
Of course, binge eating and alcohol abuse are extremely dangerous. People with these conditions are at an increased risk of developing alcoholism, diabetes, high blood pressure, fatty liver, obesity, and other health problems.
Treatment for Binge Eating Disorder and Substance Abuse
Studies have found that both binge eating disorder and substance use disorder have similar phenomenology and neurological pathways. After all, both conditions are characterized by urges, binging episodes (whether it be drugs or alcohol), and impairment.[3] However, this also means that similar treatments can be used to address both conditions.
The standard treatment for binge eating and substance abuse involves integrated treatment that combines services for both health conditions. A combination of group and individual therapy is used to help people with co-occurring disorders.
Through behavioral therapy, patients are able to recognize their negative thought processes, understanding how their eating and substance abuse are related, and learn how to cope without binging on food, drugs, or alcohol.
Three of the most common therapies for BED include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT)
In addition to therapy and counseling, patients are encouraged to join a support group to help with their recovery.
Find Help Today
At PAX Memphis Recovery Center, our mental health track allows for the treatment of co-occurring disorders such as binge eating disorder and addiction. With a small patient-to-therapist ratio and evidence-based therapies, you’ll know that you’re receiving the best possible care.
Call today to get help for yourself or a loved one or to learn more about our addiction treatment programs.
References:
Medically Reviewed: September 25, 2019
All of the information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified addiction professional.