The most common triggers are tension/stress, being alone, cravings, thinking of specific foods, feeling bored, and drinking
alcohol.
It does appear that dieting often precedes binge eating and then is also a response to overeating.
The most successful treatment for Binge Eating Disorder involves cognitive-behavioral techniques. You self-monitor all
the food that you eat, when, and why; establish a regular pattern of eating three meals and several snacks; substitute alternative
activities for emotional eating; manage stress; and, most importantly, don't get involved in strict dieting.
Eliminating binge eating is healthier for the body. Weight will not necessarily be reduced by this alone. You will move
to a more normal weight for yourself and will feel better physically and emotionally.
A useful resource for understanding
and treating Binge Eating Disorder is Overcoming Binge Eating Disorder by Christopher Fairburn, a
noted professor of psychiatry at Oxford University. Another self-help book is Eating Disorders: Time for a Change by Mona Villapiano and Laura Goodman.
