Self-help weight loss treatments for binge-eating disorder have been found to cause significant reductions in binge-eating episodes 12 months after treatment. However, information about resulting weight loss or final abstinence rates are unclear. 

Kalamazoo College

Multiple forms of treatment exist for binge eating disorder, each with different levels of efficacy in terms of prompting remission of binge-eating episodes, lessening psychological symptoms, and reducing body weight:

- Psychotherapy
- Structured self-help treatment
- Combined treatment
- Pharmacotherapy
- Behavioral weight loss treatment
- Self-help weight loss treatment
- Inpatient treatment 

Binge Eating Disorder Treatment Outcomes

Hilbert, A., Petroff, D., Herpertz, S., Pietrowsky, R., Tuschen‐Caffier, B., Vocks, S., & Schmidt, R. (2020). Meta‐analysis on the long‐term effectiveness of psychological and medical treatments for binge‐eating disorder. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 53(9), 1353-1376.

Meta-Analysis on the Long-Term Effectiveness of Psychological and Medical Treatments for Binge-Eating Disorder

Psychotherapy, which includes multiple forms of treatment such as cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy, has been found to cause significant reductions in binge-eating episodes, depression, eating disorder psychopathology, and BMI 12 months after treatment. Final abstinence rates were found to range from 46 to 52%, with a total weight loss of 1.9 to 6.1kg. However, it is important to note that BMI reduction was non-significant at both 3 and 6 months following treatment, but eventually became significant by the 12-month mark. 

Psychotherapy Outcomes for Binge Eating Disorder

Structured self-help treatment has been found to cause significant reductions in binge-eating episodes, depression, and eating disorder psychopathology	12 months after treatment. Final abstinence rates were found to range from 45 to 53%. However, it is important to note that structured self-help treatment did not lead to any significant reduction in BMI and may thus not be the most suitable method of treatment for those suffering from obesity or other weight-related medical complications. 

Structured Self-Help Outcomes for Binge Eating Disorder

Meta-analyses have found that treatments that combine multiple methods of intervention for binge eating disorder cause significant reductions in binge-eating episodes, depression, eating disorder psychopathology, and BMI 12 months after treatment. Final abstinence rates ranged from 36 to 48%, with a total weight loss of 5.7 to 6.3kg. However, it is important to note that BMI reduction was non-significant at both 3 and 6 months following treatment, but eventually became significant by the 12-month mark.

Combined Treatment Outcomes for Binge Eating Disorder

Second-generation antidepressants have been found to serve as a treatment for binge eating disorder. However, meta-analyses of their long-term effectiveness has found that while they cause significant reductions in binge-eating episodes and BMI in the short-term, these results tend to return to non-significance within 12 months after treatment. As such, while pharmacotherapy certainly has value in the management of binge eating disorder, it is unlikely to have lasting effects unless combined with other treatment methods.

Pharmacotherapy Outcomes for Binge Eating Disorder

Behavioral weight loss treatment has been found to cause significant reductions in binge-eating episodes, depression, eating disorder psychopathology, and BMI 12 months after treatment. Final abstinence rates were found to range from 30 to 62%, with a total weight loss of 3.2 to 7.2g. 

Behavioral Weight Loss Treatment Outcomes for Binge Eating Disorder

Self-Help Weight Loss Treatment Outcomes for Binge Eating Disorder

Inpatient treatment has been found to cause significant reductions in BMI between 6 and 12 months after treatment. At 3 to 6 months following treatment, abstinence rates were 44% with a total weight loss of 5.6 to 6.3kg. However, this reductions in BMI and binge-eating lost significance past the 12-month mark. As such, while inpatient treatment is acutely effective in reducing body weight, it does not appear to promote lasting improvement among binge eating disorder patients.

Learn Before

Related