ABSTRACT

Binge eating, a hallmark of both bulimia nervosa (BN) and the new DSMIV proposed diagnostic category binge eating disorder (BED), is a disturbed eating behavior defined as episodes of uncontrolled consumption of large amounts of food in a short period of time associated with a feeling of loss of control. Patients with BED usually exhibit higher than expected rates of eating related and general psychopathology. The interest about the usefulness of anti-obesity agents in BED regained a renewed interest with the introduction of sibutramine to the obesity armamentarium. The improvement in binge eating frequency was associated with a significant and important reduction in body weight as well as a concurrent decrease in depressive symptoms. One might expect that interventions specially designed for BN or obesity may have a therapeutic effect in binge eating syndromes. Combining pharmacological agents with psychological and/or nutritional interventions is a strategy frequently used in treating patients with eating disorders.