Binge eating treatment works for successful weight loss. Binge eating disorder is a common type of eating disorder. Binge eating disorder is characterized by frequently eating an unusually large amount of food while having a sense of a loss of control. This loss of control while eating is common and affects women more than men. Cognitive behavioral therapy is the gold standard of care for binge eating treatment. Keep reading to find out how beneficial CBT is binge eating, compulsive eating, excessive eating, and overeating.
Health Risks Related To Binge Eating
Health concerns related to Binge eating disorder include:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Cardiovascular disease
- Weight and shape concerns
- Reduced quality of life
- Impaired social functioning
- Low self-esteem or self-worth
Binge eating treatment works! This type of eating disorder is treatable with therapeutic interventions.
Binge Eating Disorder Treatment
Psychological treatment for binge eating targets your thoughts and feelings and cognitive behavioral therapy is the preferred treatment for obesity, excessive eating, overeating, compulsive eating, and binge eating.
Binge eating treatment consists of working with a mental health counselor who uses cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for eating disorders. CBT addresses the mental factors that drive your eating habits. Cognitive behavioral therapy for weight loss reverses unhealthy thought processes and assists you in creating new thought patterns that support healthy eating and natural weight loss. The main focus of cognitive behavioral therapy for weight loss centers around these three goals:
- Reaching your goal weight range
- Implementing a healthy lifestyle that supports weight management
- Develop mental stability in regard to weight control
CBT will help you progress toward your weight loss goals, reduce excessive eating, decrease compulsive eating, and overeating. CBT for weight loss works but don’t expect a quick-fix for weight loss because changing negative patterns and unhealthy thought patterns takes time. If you stick with it, you should begin seeing long-lasting weight loss results within several months.
Stop Binge Eating
CBT will help you with:
- Forming new patterns
- Improving your interpersonal skills
- Development of healthy coping skills
- Reducing stress and stress management skills
- Creation of healthy, supportive thoughts for a more balanced outlook
- Learning healthy ways to express your feeling
Your mental health therapist will assist you in forming a goal for weight loss. Once the main goal is established, your therapist will assist you with breaking the goal down into manageable parts that support long-term weight loss.
Weight Loss Counseling For Excessive Eating
Your weight loss counselor will encourage and support you, however you must do your part. Your therapist will encourage you to monitor your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that trigger binge eating. Some common areas of concern that trigger binge eating may include:
- Boredom
- Emotional eating (stress, sadness, comfort)
- Easy access to prepared food
- Poor snacking habits
- Eating while watching TV or using your computer
These are just some common triggers for binge eating. You must self-monitor and learn your triggers for binge eating. Once you know and are aware of your triggers that undermine your weight loss strategies, you can address them with your mental health counselor and set goals related to your binge eating treatment. Once you have identified your triggers for binge eating, you can take steps to support your weight loss goals.
Steps To Stop Compulsive Eating
- Know your binge eating triggers
- Avoid your triggers for weight loss
- Catch yourself early into a slip-up
Self-monitoring yourself is very successful in supporting your goal to stop binge eating. A good approach to self-monitoring is to keep a daily log of the foods you eat, the times you eat, the activities you are doing when you eat, and how you feel before, during, and after you eat. The benefits of logging what you eat and how you feel will help your mental health therapist guide you and support you in modifying behaviors and thoughts that contribute to your binge eating. Your weight loss therapist can offer you feedback and encouragement in a safe and supportive manner.
Cognitive behavioral therapy for weight loss is an ongoing process that takes time, effort, and willingness. This type of weight loss therapy is active, not passive. You must do the work, change self-defeating behaviors, and address the underlying reasons for binge eating.
Weight loss is a personal journey and your progress is your own. You ought to be doing this for yourself and not for the approval or acceptance of others. Weight loss and changing binge eating behaviors takes time. CBT for weight loss will help you change your behaviors that sabotage your weight loss goals. Find a weight loss counselor that specializes in CBT.
Benefits of CBT For Excessive Eating
Benefits of CBT for binge eating and CBT for weight loss include:
- Long-term, sustainable results
- Natural weight loss without medications or bariatric surgery
- Noticeable results after several binge eating or weight loss counseling sessions
The great aspect about learning CBT skills is that you can apply these therapeutic techniques to other areas of your life. CBT skills emphasize time management, self-awareness, and focused problem solving. These skills will serve you in all aspects of your life.
CBT is a collaborative process and feeling comfortable with your weight loss counseling is essential to long-lasting results. Meet with several therapists until you have found one that you feel comfortable with and one that will give you the support you need. This is your journey to stop binge eating and excessive eating. Make the time and effort to find a therapist that supports and nurtures your weight loss goals.