Depression and binge eating have been the target of scientific study for well over a decade, with many studies examining the link between the two.
Researchers at the Children’s Hospital in Boston examined survey information provided by teenage girls and concluding that girls who reported a diagnosis of clinical depression were 50 percent more likely to binge eat at a minimum of once each month. In addition to this it was reported that teenage girls who said that they binge eat at least once every month, were more likely to report symptoms of depression.
Binge eating is often categorised as compulsive overeating often as a way of coping with stress and anxiety as well as feelings of guilt, fear and anger. Many of the symptoms of depression overlap with those of binge eating.
There are a number of things that can be done in an attempt to relieve symptoms of depression and subsequently find alternative ways of coping with stress rather than turning to food.
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) has been found to significantly reduce symptoms of depression while helping people to understand and become aware of their habits that they automatically adapt in times of stress and when they feel overwhelmed with external and internal pressures.
A MBCT program consists of 8 two hour session over the course of 8 weeks and involves ‘homework’ that involves practicing the techniques taught in each weekly session.
The 8 week course can have a profound effect on both symptoms of depression and overall wellbeing and may be worth exploring before more drastic therapies such as pharmaceuticals are consulted.