Binge Eating

There is a tool called the Binge Eating Scale which can be used to identify binge eating (Grupski et al., 2013).  It consists of 16 phrases and the client can rate to what degree they identify with each one, for example concealing their eating or eating when bored.  I feel like it would be a useful reflective exercise for the client to consider to what degree they identify with each of these phrases, since it could help to build self awareness.  Being only 16 questions, it would not take a lot of time for the client to respond to and could help the practitioner to understand existing behaviors.  Grupski et al. validated this tool, and recommended it for its usefulness in evaluating the degree to which binge eating could be contributing to the clinical picture. 

One meal planning strategy that could potentially help reduce binge eating is to encourage clients to not skip meals, particularly breakfast.  Masheb and Grilo (2006) reviewed the meal patterns of 173 people and found that those who regularly ate three meals a day were less likely to report binge eating.  However, they note that their study design is only able to show correlation and not causation, so further studies are needed in order to determine whether establishing a regular meal pattern would be able to reduce binge eating in someone who is already experiencing it. 

In addition to planning three meals a day, it could help to make sure that the meals are nutritionally adequate.  For example, Khoury er al. (2021) found that people who reported a higher omega 6 to omega 3 ratio on their Food Frequency Questionnaire had higher scores on the bingo eating scale. 

References:

Grupski, A. E., Hood, M. M., Hall, B. J., Azarbad, L., Fitzpatrick, S. L., & Corsica, J. A. (2013). Examining the Binge Eating Scale in Screening for Binge Eating Disorder in Bariatric Surgery Candidates. Obesity Surgery: The Journal of Metabolic Surgery and Allied Care, 23(1), 1–6. 

Khoury, M., Chamsine, S., Merheb, C., Arfoul, E., Rached, M., Younes, F., El Osta, N., Laye, S., Aoun, C., Papazian, T., & Rabbaa Khabbaz, L. (2021). Binge eating among young adults: association with sociodemographic factors, nutritional intake, dietary n -6: n -3 ratio and impulsivity. British Journal of Nutrition, 126(9), 1431–1440. 

Masheb, R. M., & Grilo, C. M. (2006). Eating patterns and breakfast consumption in obese patients with binge eating disorder. Behaviour Research & Therapy, 44(11), 1545–1553.