Disorder Revealed To Be More Difficult To Treat

It’s tougher than previously thought.

Previous research hinted that binge eating disorder might be short-lived, but a recent comprehensive investigation into the illness contradicts this assumption. Kristin Javaras, the lead author of the study and an assistant psychologist at McLean Hospital in Boston, emphasized that while binge eating disorder does show signs of improvement over time, for many individuals, it persists for years. This finding challenges previous studies that portrayed the disorder as transient, highlighting the importance of understanding its duration and likelihood of relapse to improve care provision.

Binge eating disorder typically manifests in individuals around their mid-20s, characterized by a sense of loss of control over eating habits. It affects approximately 1 to 3 percent of American adults. Javaras’ team recognized limitations in prior studies, which were often retrospective or lacked representation from individuals dealing with severe obesity.

In their study, Javaras and her team monitored the progress of 137 adults diagnosed with binge-eating disorder over a span of five years. The participants, aged 19 to 74, had an average BMI indicative of obesity. Notably, these individuals were living independently within their communities and were not part of treatment programs, providing a more realistic portrayal of the disorder’s impact in real-world settings.

At the 2.5-year mark, 61% of participants still met all criteria for binge-eating disorder, with an additional 23% exhibiting clinically significant symptoms. By the five-year mark, while some participants showed improvement, the majority still met the criteria for the disorder. Notably, even among those who achieved remission at 2.5 years, 35% relapsed into full-blown binge eating disorder by the five-year mark.

Despite some improvements, most participants continued to experience binge-eating episodes at the five-year mark. These findings underscore the chronic nature of binge eating disorder and the challenges in achieving sustained remission. Javaras emphasized the potential benefits of treatment programs, although accessibility remains an issue for many individuals. The study was published in the journal Psychological Medicine on May 28th.