Overcoming Binge Eating with Eating Disorder Dietitian Kathleen Meehan, MS, RD
You’ve probably noticed that I’m talking about binge eating a lot lately. One reason is because I see so many people suffering from binge eating in my San Diego practice. Binge eating disorder (BED) is when you have uncontrollable urges to eat typically large amounts of food in a short amount of time. Often disassociation and a sense of detachment occurs during the binge. Afterword, you feel overwhelmed with shame and self-loathing. You promise yourself you’ll never do it again, and then you do. It’s such a difficult way to live. Binge eating has nothing to do with willpower, and it isn’t a moral issue. Binge eating disorder is a brain disorder, and you can get treatment for it so you can live a free and fulfilling life.
I’ve had great success treating binge eating in San Diego, often alongside amazing eating disorder dietitians such as Kathleen Meehan, MS, RD. Kathleen has a unique approach to binge eating that incorporates a Health at Every Size (HAES) approach, as well as an intuitive eating strategy. I’m exciting you get to know more about how Kathleen treats binge eating!
How long have you been an eating disorder dietitian working with binge eating in California?
I moved to California in February 2020, just a few weeks before the lockdown began. I have been working with binge eating virtually in California since then, and I still hold licensure in other states as well. I have worked as a dietitian since 2014. I didn't always consider myself an eating disorder dietitian, but my work slowly evolved as I began to see how common eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors are. I feel very lucky to be able to do this work.
What is unique about binge eating that differs from other eating disorders?
I think BED is misunderstood. I wish more people understood that binge eating disorder has a strong component of restriction. Because restriction is so normalized in our culture, it's commonly overlooked as one of the root causes of bingeing. People often feel significant shame, and blame themselves for 'a lack of willpower, rather than identify the role restriction plays in bingeing. It's also important to consider that restriction can present as both physical restriction and psychological restriction.
How do you help people who feel out of control with their binge eating?
We often start by emphasizing the importance of consistent eating throughout the day, and normalizing an adequate intake of energy. This strategy can help reduce the physiological need for a binge that is an extremely normal side effect of restriction and low calorie eating. Many times, food rules or experiences with stigma can impact this process of eating adequately, so we hold a lot of space for individual experiences and beliefs.
How can working with an eating disorder dietitian help a person stop binge eating?
Ideally, eating disorder treatment involves a team. Working with a dietitian can help support the healing work occurring in therapy and can allow for additional time to explore your relationship with food. Adequate intake is essential for recovery, and many people can benefit from support while exploring what this looks like. Having support while nourishing your body and unlearning the rules and beliefs that diet culture has reinforced can be helpful. Nutrition support throughout the healing process will look different for different people with different experiences, but it can be invaluable.
How can taking a HAES perspective help with binge eating treatment?
I strongly believe all dietitians should work from a HAES lens. Failure to do so does harm. Given what we understand about weight stigma as well as the very normal likelihood of bingeing following restriction, binge eating treatment benefits from emphasizing healing behaviors rather than an emphasis on weight loss.
Is there any other information that you’d like people to know about binge eating recovery?
I firmly believe that any degree of distress around food is worthy and deserving of support and healing.
How can people get to know more about and contact you?
The best place to learn more and contact me would be through my website kathleenmeehanrd.com. I'm also on instagram at @therdnutritionist and twitter at @kathleenmrdn.
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Hey everyone, I really appreciate you reading my blog! Have a wonderful day. :)
Marianne 😊
It’s coming! The Ultimate Training to Break Free from the Binge Eating Cycle Join me LIVE via Zoom on Tuesday, September 13th, from 12-1p Pacific Time!
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If you want to move toward eating disorder recovery and find out more about eating disorder treatment, bulimia, ARFID, binge eating or other eating disorders in San Diego, check out the resources on my website, including previous blog posts and my guest-speaking gigs on podcasts.
You can find more information about me on Instagram @drmariannemiller, on my Facebook page, or on Twitter.