Binge Eating Disorder: Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment Options
Binge eating disorder (BED) is the most common eating disorder in the United States, yet many people feel ashamed to talk about it. It involves repeated episodes of eating large amounts of food in a short period of time, paired with a painful sense of loss of control. Unlike bulimia nervosa or anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder does not typically involve purging or other compensatory behaviors such as misuse of laxatives. Instead, individuals often continue struggling with health problems related to weight gain, obesity, high cholesterol, or blood pressure.
At Journey to Wellness, led by Jacqueline Materi, APRN, CRNA, PMHNP-BC, we understand how deeply this condition can affect eating habits, body image, and self-esteem. Through integrative psychiatry and advanced therapies like Exomind, we provide treatment options that address both the mind and body. If binge eating behaviors have been impacting your life or that of a loved one, our team is here to help.
Understanding Binge Eating Disorder
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), binge eating disorder is defined by episodes of binge eating at least once a week for three months or more. These episodes often occur even when the individual is not hungry and are followed by guilt, shame, or distress.
Symptoms of binge eating disorder may include:
Eating unusually large amounts of food within a short time frame
Feeling a loss of control during eating behaviors
Eating more quickly than normal, often until uncomfortably full
Eating alone due to embarrassment about food intake
Experiencing guilt, depression, or low self-esteem afterward
BED is different from occasional overeating. It is a recognized mental health condition with a significant prevalence among adolescents and adults alike. It can affect anyone regardless of gender, age, or body shape. Healthcare professionals stress that treatment of binge eating disorder is possible and highly effective when evidence-based approaches are used.
What Causes Binge Eating Disorder?
There is no single cause of binge eating disorder. Instead, it arises from a mix of risk factors involving biology, psychology, and environment:
Biological influences: People with a family history of eating disorders, ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder), or other mental health conditions may be more vulnerable. Brain chemistry, particularly in dopamine and impulse control pathways, also plays a role.
Emotional triggers: Stress, sadness, and loneliness are common sparks for episodes of binge eating. Some people turn to food as a coping mechanism when faced with tough emotions.
Dieting cycles: Strict dieting, restrictive eating patterns, or pressure to achieve weight loss can backfire, leading to binge eating behaviors.
Trauma and environment: Past trauma, negative comments from family members, or societal pressure around body image and body shape may contribute to disordered eating.
Coexisting conditions: BED is often linked with depression, anxiety, type 2 diabetes, and other health problems that can worsen without proper interventions.
Recognizing these underlying risk factors allows for more personalized and effective treatment plans.
How Exomind Addresses Binge Eating Disorder
Exomind is an advanced form of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy that uses noninvasive magnetic pulses to stimulate specific areas of the brain involved in mood, impulse control, and eating behaviors. Research shows that these brain circuits may function differently in individuals with binge eating disorder.
Exomind is FDA (Food and Drug Administration) cleared for the treatment of major depressive disorder and approved in other countries for additional conditions, including binge eating and anxiety. This makes it one of the most promising treatment options for individuals who have not improved with psychotherapy, medications, or self-help approaches alone.
Benefits of Exomind
Patients who complete Exomind treatment may experience:
Fewer and less intense episodes of binge eating
Stronger ability to regulate food intake and eating patterns
Improved mood and reduction of coexisting mental health symptoms
Relief from the cycle of guilt and shame that follows binge eating behaviors
Increased confidence, better self-esteem, and improved quality of life
Because Exomind is noninvasive and does not involve medication, patients avoid common side effects like fatigue or weight gain that are sometimes associated with antidepressants.
Other Treatment Options for Binge Eating Disorder
Effective treatment of binge eating disorder often includes a combination of therapies tailored to the individual. At Journey to Wellness, we may recommend pairing Exomind with other evidence-based interventions:
Psychotherapy: Approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) are well-supported by research. These therapies target unhelpful thought patterns and teach healthier coping skills.
Medication management: Certain antidepressants, topiramate, and lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse) have shown benefits for reducing binge episodes. However, all medications come with potential side effects, and they are most effective when used under careful guidance from healthcare professionals.
Nutritional counseling: Working with a registered dietitian can help restore balance to eating patterns, improve body image, and support behavioral weight loss when appropriate.
Support groups: Sharing experiences with others facing binge eating disorder provides accountability, reduces isolation, and offers encouragement to patients and family members.
Lifestyle changes: Regular exercise, stress management, and mindfulness practices can help reduce disordered eating and improve overall mental health.
These interventions can be combined to create a comprehensive treatment plan designed to meet each patient’s unique needs.
Why Choose Journey to Wellness?
At Journey to Wellness in Bismarck, North Dakota, we believe mental health care works best when it addresses the whole person. Under the guidance of Jacqueline Materi, APRN, CRNA, PMHNP-BC, we bring together psychiatry, advanced technology, and compassionate care to provide the highest standard of support.
Our clinic emphasizes personalized interventions, empowering patients to heal from disordered eating and other mental health conditions. With deep ties to the Bismarck community, we create a safe and welcoming environment where patients and their loved ones can begin the journey toward recovery.
Take the Next Step
If you or a loved one is struggling with binge eating disorder, know that help is available. Journey to Wellness in Bismarck offers compassionate, integrative care backed by advanced tools like Exomind and groundbreaking solutions like ketamine therapy. Together, we can build a treatment plan that helps restore balance, improve eating habits, and strengthen long-term mental health.
Don’t wait to take back control of your life. Contact Journey to Wellness today to schedule a consultation and begin your path toward healing.
