Binge Eating Disorder

Continuing healthy habits at home can improve binge eating disorder.

• Reference Develop a plan for eating a balanced diet. A Reference registered dietitian Opens New Window can help you with this. For more information, see the topic Reference Healthy Eating.
• Reference Become more physically active. Talk with your doctor about how to increase your activity. For more information, see the topic Reference Fitness.
• Reference Take care of yourself. Pace yourself. And try to spend time with other people who care about you.

It is helpful when family members are Reference supportive of their loved one who has binge eating disorder. Learning about the disorder will be useful for the entire family.

In many cases, eating disorders are associated with poor body image and low self-esteem. Parents can help reduce the chances that their children will develop an eating disorder by teaching them to have:

• Reference A healthy view of themselves.
• Reference Healthy attitudes about eating and exercise.

For more information, see the topic Reference Healthy Eating for Children.

Other treatment

Other treatments can help reduce binge eating.

Self-care programs. These are organized programs that provide self-help materials such as manuals or computer-based activities that can be useful in treating eating disorders. But most people who have an eating disorder also need counseling and possibly medicine.

Stress management techniques. Many people report that their binging episodes are triggered by feelings of anxiety or tension. Although not part of the treatment of binge eating disorder, relieving stress can help during recovery and can improve quality of life. Techniques to reduce stress include:

• Exercising. Regular physical activity is one of the most effective stress-management techniques.
• Writing. Research shows that expressing yourself in writing can be a very effective way to reduce your stress level.
• Expressing your feelings. Talking, laughing, crying, and expressing anger are normal parts of the emotional healing process.
• Doing something you enjoy. A hobby or other healthy leisure activity that is meaningful to you can help you relax. Volunteer work or work that helps others can be a powerful stress-buster.
• Body-centered relaxation. This includes Reference breathing exercises, Reference muscle relaxation exercises, Reference massage, Reference aromatherapy, Reference yoga, and traditional Chinese relaxation exercises such as Reference tai chi and qi gong.
• Mindfulness activities. These include learning how to relax your body through Reference self-hypnosis, Reference meditation, or Reference imagery exercises or Reference listening to relaxing music or using Reference humor to reduce stress.

For more information on stress reduction, see the topic Reference Stress Management.

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