Binge Eating Disorder Treatment

Overcome the cycle of binge eating and heal your relationship with food and your body. Learn all about binge eating disorder (BED) treatment here.

Why seek treatment for binge eating?

If you often eat large amounts of food quickly or feel out of control when eating, you’re not alone. BED is very common, and it can be difficult to stop binge eating on your own. Binge eating can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender or body type; symptoms vary widely.

  • Anxiety and depression may lead to emotional eating.
  • Food packages and wrappers may be hidden to avoid judgment from others.
  • Body image issues may become so severe that people neglect self-care.

If any of this sounds familiar, know that the right support can make all the difference.

Symptoms of binge eating

Binge eating disorder can look like:

  • Eating food because it’s the only thing that brings comfort
  • Eating large amounts of food even when not hungry
  • Skipping meals during the day and overeating at night
  • Eating until uncomfortably full
  • Feeling disgusted, depressed, ashamed or guilty after eating

Binge eating disorder recovery looks different for everyone. Eating patterns ebb and flow. But we can learn how to manage our emotions in the process and identify the connection between our emotions and our eating habits. Recovery is a path and not a destination.

Meredith Nisbet-Croes, MS, LMFT, CEDS-C (she/her), Eating Recovery Center national clinical response manager
people talking

How to break the binge eating cycle

Binge eating treatment provides a safe, inclusive healing environment to help you break the binge eating cycle. Learn how to:

  • Identify triggers that lead to binge eating
  • Change thought patterns that cause emotional distress
  • Develop coping skills to manage life’s stressors
  • Nourish your body
  • Feel more comfortable both alone and with others

Binge eating is about much more than food and weight. There are many components to BED, including emotional, physical, behavioral, medical and nutritional factors. And this is why BED treatment programs are so powerful.

Get the specialized binge eating support you deserve

Binge eating treatment can help you:

  • Address emotions and thoughts that lead to binge eating behaviors with evidence-based treatment.
  • In your own healing community, learn mindful eating while building skills to manage binge eating behaviors.
  • Get care from our specialized, experienced team including licensed therapists, registered dietitians, consulting physicians and care coordinators who are trained to provide BED treatment.
  • Discover the benefits of predictable eating patterns, flexibility and intuitive eating with our CARE (consistent, attuned, regular eating) model meal plan.
  • Family members, caregivers and friends can benefit from extensive family involvement, education and support.
  • Our Chicago treatment spaces are designed to accommodate all bodies comfortably.
  • Our community outreach liaison team will be there to support you after treatment ends.
  • Start healing from anxiety, depression and trauma

    Let go of judgment, shame and guilt. Discover the ways that media, diet culture and toxic shame combine to increase the risk of eating disorders.

  • Create a better relationship with food and your body

    Gain confidence in preparing and cooking meals and find common ground with peers who understand what you’re going through.

  • Improve your ability to cope with life’s many stressors

    Learn from compassionate therapists, dietitians and doctors specializing in BED. Create your own goals and treatment plans with support from your treatment team.

Find BED treatment near you

Eating Recovery Center (ERC) is one of the only treatment centers in the U.S. offering specialized, targeted virtual and in-person programs to help you overcome binge eating. Explore our three distinct BED treatment offerings below:

  • Start therapy at home with our convenient online BED treatment program.
  • Join our acclaimed, specialized in-person BED treatment program in downtown Chicago.
  • Explore our nationwide eating disorder treatment centers -- all offering BED treatment.

"ERC saved my life"

  • Virtual BED treatment

    Get compassionate care and evidence-based therapy from the comfort of home

  • In-person BED treatment in Chicago

    Benefit from specialized, comprehensive programs for BED

  • Eating disorder treatment centers nationwide 

    Find recovery with others experiencing a variety of disordered eating symptoms

binge eating treatment

Online BED treatment programs

With Eating Recovery At Home, you’ll create a safe, healing environment in your own space. Address emotions, thoughts and behaviors related to binge eating and body image from the comfort and privacy of home. It's all about convenience, privacy and fitting treatment seamlessly into your everyday life.  Here’s what you get with our virtual BED treatment program:

  • Three 3-hour weekly groups including: 
    • Focused groups featuring evidence-based BED therapy  (DBT, CBT, ACT, ERP) 
    • Nutrition counseling and education including mealtime support, cooking classes and group meals that provide structure and accountability 
    • Process-oriented group therapy 
    • Behavior modification group therapy (exposures, behavioral activation) 
  • One weekly individual therapy or family therapy session 
  • One weekly session with a registered dietitian 
  • Family education series
  • Recovery Record mobile app tracks food intake, thoughts, emotions and behaviors 
  • Weekly peer, alumni and caregiver support groups   

Eating Recovery At Home is a great option for you whether you are new to treatment or have been in treatment before.

 

A young man on a computer

Online therapy for BED

There is a lot that we love about our virtual program. Here are a few highlights:

  • Practice your new skills in the comfort and safety of your home environment, where you may struggle most.
  • Meet with the same peers and group leaders weekly. Other virtual BED treatment programs allow participants to drop in at will. That means you may not recognize the people in treatment with you each week.
  • Virtual treatment is often appreciated by busy caregivers, professionals, students and anyone needing easy access to care.
"Many of our patients tell us that the hardest part of treatment is the last day. They miss cheering their fellow participants on and following up with each other. This is why we refer you to our virtual alumni support groups after care ends -- so you can continue to enjoy peer support in a safe space."

Kristie Simmons, MS, RD, CEDS-C
Eating Recovery Center nutrition director of virtual services

Nutrition Services

Online nutritional support

In our virtual program, meals take place during the middle hour of the three-hour treatment day. Your therapist and dietitian will alternate providing meal support.

Nutrition education and experiential groups rotate throughout the week, covering cooking, grocery shopping, meal planning and more.

  • Share your “aha” moments with those who understand what you’re going through.
  • Find nutritional support without having to leave home.
  • Explore various nutrition and health topics in weekly nutrition education groups.
  • Learn how to navigate diet culture with peers.

BED treatment program in Chicago

If you prefer in-person support and are able to travel to downtown Chicago, our in-person BED treatment program may be the best fit for you. Our specialized BED programs in Chicago include:

Please know that the majority of individuals in our Chicago program are not local; many travel from out of state for this specialized care. Housing is available if you need it while in PHP.

Downtown Chicago

Chicago BED PHP

Treatment takes place seven days per week, eight hours per day with: 

Chicago BED IOP

Treatment takes place four days per week, three hours per day with: 

Three weekly individual therapy or family therapy sessions One weekly individual therapy or family therapy session
Two weekly sessions with a registered dietitian Biweekly sessions with a registered dietitian
Two supported meals and one supported snack daily One supported meal daily on treatment days
Two weekly sessions with a psychiatrist  
Primary care physician access, as needed  
Recovery Record mobile app to track food intake, thoughts, emotions and behaviors Recovery Record mobile app to track food intake, thoughts, emotions and behaviors
Family education series and caregiver support groups Family education series and caregiver support groups

Find cozy accommodations in Chicago

If you need housing while in our BED PHP in Chicago, we can provide you with a newly renovated, loft-style, furnished suite a few blocks from our treatment center. In the heart of downtown Chicago (just off the Magnificent Mile), you’ll find a secure condominium building where you will live with other residents receiving treatment. Accommodations for mobility concerns are available, and transportation can be coordinated to and from the treatment center. Please reach out to us if you have questions about housing or transportation.

Getting started

When you start BED PHP treatment in Chicago, you will meet with a primary care physician or nurse practitioner who specializes in working with folks with BED. During this visit we will:

  • Monitor your vitals
  • Take labs as needed
  • Help you manage medications and any co-occurring emotional or physical health concerns

Medical and therapeutic care in Chicago

In Chicago, our multidisciplinary BED treatment approach includes care from a variety of experts in nutrition, behavioral therapy, psychiatry/medicine (PHP only) and more. You will receive:

  • Evidence-based therapies that reduce the compulsion to overeat
  • Dietary and nutrition education and guidance
  • Nutrition groups with hands-on experiences, like preparing and sharing food
  • Outings to restaurants in downtown Chicago where you can build comfort with your new skills
  • Psychiatric assessment and treatment (PHP only)
  • Care for medical issues related to compulsive overeating (PHP only)

What’s included

Our core BED treatment programs in Chicago include several options to accommodate each individual’s unique needs. Both PHP and IOP include:

  • Focused groups featuring evidence-based BED therapy (DBT, CBT-E, ACT, ERP) 
  • Nutrition counseling and education including mealtime support, cooking classes and group meals to provide structure and accountability 
  • Process-oriented group therapy 
  • Behavior modification group therapy (exposures, behavioral activation) 
  • Access to physical therapy services nearby, if needed

You focus on treatment. Let us help with insurance

When you are working toward BED recovery, you shouldn't have to worry about insurance coverage and how to pay for treatment. We are here to help you understand your insurance benefits so that you can get the most out of treatment -- and move toward recovery. We will do everything we can to make the insurance and payment process as smooth as possible while you are in treatment. And, yes, many health insurance policies DO cover BED treatment.

Covered by Most Commercial Insurance Plans

  • cofinity
  • compsych
  • magellan health
  • moda
  • multiplan
  • phcs
  • rocky mountain health plans
  • ascension seton
  • value options
  • colorado community health alliance logo

Our patient access team is here to advocate for you. We can help you address financial challenges and work with you to get you the maximum coverage offered by your plan.

Learn More About Insurance

ERC treatment outcomes

No matter what you're facing, long-lasting healing is possible — and the data shows it. View all the data at our treatment outcomes website.

*These treatment outcomes reflect the progress of patients discharged from our care between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2023, who completed admission and discharge assessments.

82% of patients felt their care team met their expectations
79% of patients found their experience at ERC helpful
77% of patients say they’re likely to recommend ERC

Testimonials

This program and group of exceptional people pulled me out of grief I wasn't even fully aware I was in. It is intensive and requires a lot of time but it is very much worth every moment. I learned a lot of new information; the basics were repeated and a good reminder of healthy habits.

Pat

I count myself very lucky to have been recommended to ERC and was welcomed with open arms. I had no idea how to recover from ED or how to help myself until I learned the necessary tools and coping mechanisms from ERC. Everyone is so kind and helpful, they really helped me turn my life around for the better.

Madeleine

My time at ERC was extremely therapeutic. Sam and Alexis made the program a success. It's not easy; it's hard work. However, the outcome is well worth it. If you are on the fence about enrolling, don't hesitate and go for it! Get the help you need!

Becky

I was able to receive helpful and supportive treatment virtually. It helped me break free of the binge cycle I was experiencing to begin healing my relationship with food and my body. I did not know what to expect when entering treatment and was pleasantly surprised with the tight-knit virtual community I was a part of.

Grace

How does binge eating therapy work?

BED therapy, available in all of our BED treatment programs, helps you overcome disordered eating thoughts and behaviors, including:

In our programs, you may encounter any or all of the following therapies shown to be most helpful for BED recovery.

  1. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): Identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors related to binge eating while gaining practical tools.
  2. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT): Gain flexibility with your thoughts and emotions while committing to actions in line with your values.
  3. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): Learn how to use mindfulness to manage emotions and develop coping skills.
  4. Exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP): Safely expose yourself to situations and events that may normally cause anxiety and distress so you can cope with and manage these situations in the future.
  5. Cognitive processing therapy (CPT): Learn about trauma recovery and how trauma can impact your life, even years later. Address ways that trauma may be keeping you “stuck,” preventing your recovery.
  6. Emotion-focused family therapy (EFFT): Intensive family work focuses on changes within the family system (e.g., increasing communication skills and increasing awareness for all family members).
  7. Body image work: Build awareness and self-compassion as you explore perceptions and behaviors related to privilege, diet culture and societal messaging.

CBT-E for binge eating disorder

Our primary therapy approach to BED treatment is CBT-E (cognitive behavioral therapy -- enhanced) that specially targets eating disorder thoughts and behaviors. This is currently the top evidence-based therapy addressing eating disorder thoughts and behaviors.

CBT-E can help you:

  1. Identify triggers. By knowing what triggers your binge eating behaviors, we can find ways to spot and cope with them differently.
  2. Change thought patterns. Cognitive restructuring means challenging negative thoughts about food and your body.
  3. Develop new coping skills. Gain new tips and tricks to help you handle stress, anxiety and tough moments. 

CBT-E and other therapies can help you recover from any co-occurring conditions that might be contributing to binge eating, including these mental health concerns: 

Binge eating group therapy

Group BED therapy offers you many benefits. In addition to sharing your story with peers who understand what you are going through, you will learn many new techniques to help you:

"It makes sense that you are scared to talk about this. It is scary. But if you are willing to try the program out for two weeks, we promise you that it will be life changing."

Kaila Peak-Rishel, LCSW, LMFT, CEDS-C, Binge Eating Recovery At Home clinical director
Nutrition Services

Binge eating recovery meal plans

Meal planning is an essential tool in all of our BED treatment programs, laying the groundwork for your recovery. This organized approach ensures that you meet your daily nutrition needs, preventing impulsive or emotional eating. Planning your meals in advance offers you multiple benefits:

  • You’ll feel less vulnerable over binge eating.
  • Eating will become less impulsive.
  • You’ll be less likely to make impulse buys when grocery shopping.
  • Eating will feel less emotional.
  • You’ll feel ready to allow “forbidden” or “binge” foods back into your life again.

Start to see food as safe again with help from our treatment team.

Our approach to meal planning and nutrition for BED

At ERC, we believe that all foods fit into your life, helping you get adequate nutrition. Our CARE (consistent, attuned, regular eating) approach provides dietary structure and consistency throughout the day, while allowing for flexibility in attunement with yourself. Our “balanced plate” approach focuses on hunger and fullness cues. With treatment, your hunger/fullness hormones may start to readjust. Thanks to structured eating, any cravings you have will start to feel less chaotic.

"Our program offers you freedom: freedom from shame, freedom from diet culture and freedom from a weight-centered medical system. We offer you a village where people understand you and you can find support."

Kristie Simmons, MS, RD, CEDRD-S, Eating Recovery Center nutrition director of virtual services
people talking

Shame and binge eating

Millions struggle with overeating, yet BED is often hidden in shame, secrecy and isolation. Shame is perhaps one of the most painful and uncomfortable feelings to tolerate. When people are feeling shame, they don’t just think "I have done something wrong"; shame feels like "I am wrong" or "I am unlovable" or even "I am broken."

Why does shame feel so terrible?

Shame feels like not only have you done something wrong – but that you ARE wrong as a person. Being shamed early in life, whether you were abused, bullied or insulted, is associated with more severe binge eating behaviors. And feelings of shame can even lead you to binge. Many also feel shame after a binge, which keeps the eating disorder going. In our treatment programs, we explore shame as a root cause and driver of binge eating behaviors.

How to heal shame

Shame often keeps BED hidden, but treatment can help you overcome these feelings and find support in a safe space. Shame is common, it is painful, but it can be overcome.

"More people struggle with binge eating and compulsive overeating than you may realize. Whether you are struggling a little or a lot, treatment can help. You’ll feel less alone as you learn new coping skills, including how to manage shame."

Colleen Soldano, LCPC
Eating Recovery Center, downtown Chicago, executive director

How to help someone with BED

Support and connection from friends and loved ones isn’t just helpful for the people who struggle with binge eating. Support from loved ones can be life changing. This is why we strongly encourage and welcome support and connection from loved ones as a cornerstone on the path to recovery. We share several resources for family members, friends and caregivers below, including a link where you can reach out to us directly.

Your loved one has the power to heal themselves; they can harness that power when they are well supported and have appropriate care.

Why Choose ERC?

Think of ERC’s continuum of care as a “golden thread” providing you with smooth transitions and consistency throughout treatment. ERC’s continuum of care team has been intentionally and carefully trained to:

  1. Get to know who you are as a whole person
  2. Provide consistent support that moves with you
  3. Reduce the risk of relapse during treatment
  4. Eliminate your stress in having to tell your story again and again
  5. Ensure access to medical and psychiatric experts in the eating disorders field
  6. Offer education and support to families and caregivers
  7. Increase the likelihood of insurance approving or extending your care
  8. Make sure that you have access to ongoing education, events and support groups after discharge
  9. Create seamless transitions with each level of care change
  10. Ensure uninterrupted connections with school (for child and adolescent patients)

Our continuum of care model ensures that you will be connected with the right support at the right time, from the initial assessment all the way through to aftercare.

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Eating Recovery Center is accredited through the Joint Commission. This organization seeks to enhance the lives of the persons served in healthcare settings through a consultative accreditation process emphasizing quality, value and optimal outcomes of services.

Organizations that earn the Gold Seal of Approval™ have met or exceeded The Joint Commission’s rigorous performance standards to obtain this distinctive and internationally recognized accreditation. Learn more about this accreditation here.

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