Eating disorders can be emotionally and physically destructive. If an eating disorder is left untreated, it can cause long-term consequences for your physical and emotional health. Binge eating disorder (BED) is the most common eating disorder in the United States.

There’s no one treatment for BED that works for everyone. Any treatment plan, though, should seek to address both the physical and emotional aspects of the disorder. Various therapies have been successfully delivered through group therapy.

Types of Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy (IPT), and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) have all shown some success in treating BED:

  • The goal of CBT for BED is to establish regular eating patterns and address your thoughts to create a positive change in your behavior.
  • The goal of IBT is to improve your interpersonal relationships.
  • DBT has mindfulness, cognitive, and behavioral aspects. The goal of DBT is to improve your emotional coping strategies.

These therapies are all available in either group or individual formats.

What Therapy Is Available for Binge Eating Disorder?

CBT and IPT have shown the most success so far in treating binge eating. Some research supports the use of CBT and IPT for effective BED treatment. Other research notes that DBT shows promise, but further research is needed to prove its long-term benefit in treating the condition.

It’s unclear whether treatment in a group or individual format is more effective. One study, though, showed a higher recovery rate for people with disordered eating who were treated in a group therapy versus those treated in an individual setting. Recovery was measured by weight loss and the stopping of purging behaviors. Among those treated in a group setting, 62 percent showed signs of recovery. Only 33 percent of those treated in individual sessions showed signs of recovery.

While that study shows promise, it only looked at adolescent females. Further studies are needed to compare the effectiveness of group therapy versus individual therapy.

No matter what the format is, therapy is an important part of your treatment.

What to Expect

The makeup of each group varies. It’s common for a group to include both females and males. Groups are often made up of various ages.

Groups of four to 12 people have been the most effective, says James M. Greenblatt M.D., chief medical officer and vice president of medical services at Walden Behavioral Care in Waltham, Massachusetts.

A trained psychotherapist or other licensed professional typically leads group sessions. Group sessions can revolve around various topics depending on the therapy.

If you’re considering group therapy or you’re new to it, Greenblatt says you can expect positive support from peers as well as peer pressure to abstain from addictive or destructive behaviors.

“Members can also challenge each other in a caring way about self-destructive tendencies, irrational thinking, and inconsistencies in thought and behavior that drive disordered eating or binge behavior,” he says.

Another benefit of group therapy is that it can help reduce isolation. This can be important for people used to practicing their unhealthy eating behaviors in private.

Group Therapy vs. Support Groups

Group therapy and support groups differ in important ways, but you may see the terms used interchangeably. Group therapy is led by a licensed professional. A support group is led by your peers. Your insurance may cover group therapy. Support group meetings are typically free.

Finding the Right Group for You

Groups are highly individualized. Ask a lot of questions when researching a group. Try contacting the group leader ahead of time to learn more about it. If a group doesn’t work for you or doesn’t seem like a good fit, find another one that works better.

“Sometimes, it may take a while to find the right fit,” says Kait Fortunato, R.D., L.D., a registered dietitian in private practice and co-author of the workbook Taste the Sweet Rebellion: REBEL Against Dieting.

All groups are confidential, says Fortunato, and nothing is shared outside the safe space.

For help finding a treatment to assist you with your long-term recovery, check out: