Compulsão Alimentar: o que é, causas e tratamento em Lisboa

FOOD COMPULSION - Treatment in Lisbon

Specialised clinical assessment and multidisciplinary treatment in Lisbon

WHAT IS BINGE EATING?

Avaliação e tratamento da Compulsão Alimentar — NeuroPsyque Lisboa

Emotional and impulse control dysregulation

Binge Eating Disorder is characterised by recurrent episodes in which an abnormally large amount of food is consumed in a short space of time, accompanied by a profound sense of loss of control. Unlike Bulimia, there are no compensatory behaviours (such as vomiting or using laxatives), which leads to intense suffering, shame and often social isolation.

Most common manifestations

Out-of-control episodes
Eating much faster than normal and even feeling uncomfortably full, even without physical hunger.
Hidden Ingestion
Hiding packages or eating alone out of shame and embarrassment at the amount eaten.
Post-Crisis Emotional Distress
Deep feelings of guilt, self-loathing or depressive episodes immediately after the binge.
Restriction-Compulsion Cycle
Attempts at highly restrictive diets that almost always fail, serving as a trigger for new episodes.

RISK FACTORS AND EMOTIONAL TRIGGERS

Emotional Regulation Difficulty

Using food as a coping mechanism to try to deal with and anaesthetise feelings of stress, anxiety, deep sadness or even boredom.

Psychological

Cycle of Restrictive Diets

Extreme diets or severe food deprivation (fasting) that deregulate the body and trigger the biological and psychological impulse to binge.

Behavioural

Neurobiological changes

Dysregulation in the brain's reward (dopamine) and satiety circuits, making it difficult for the body to recognise healthy signals.

Biological

Trauma and Social Factors

A history of trauma, bullying (often related to weight or body image) or growing up in dysfunctional family environments.

History

Fatores neurobiológicos e emocionais da Compulsão Alimentar

Binge eating is often accompanied by other mental health disorders, such as depression and generalised anxiety.

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EFFECTIVENESS IN THE TREATMENT OF BINGE EATING

Sustained clinical results with an integrated psychotherapeutic and psychiatric intervention

80%

of patients manage to significantly reduce or eliminate binge episodes

75%

average improvement in emotional regulation and treatment of comorbid depressive symptoms

3×

greater effectiveness when abandoning restrictive diets in favour of conscious re-education

85%

report significant improvements in their self-esteem and relationship with food

* The treatment focuses on mental health and emotional regulation, with dietary stabilisation being a natural consequence of the process.
Sources: clinical data, National Institutes of Health (NIH) and psychiatric studies on Binge Eating Disorder (PubMed).

CLINICAL AND THERAPEUTIC ENVIRONMENT

Impacto emocional nos circuitos cerebrais

Estimulação Magnética Transcraniana para modulação de impulsos e humor

Terapias para regulação de ansiedade e mindfulness

tDCS - Estimulação Eléctrica Transcraniana

Salas de Terapia e Acompanhamento Psicológico

Espaço Clínico NeuroPsyque - Ambiente Seguro e Acolhedor

THE IMPORTANCE OF BREAKING THE CYCLE OF SILENCE

Binge eating is the most common eating disorder, but also one of the most under-diagnosed due to the shame associated with it. Many people suffer in silence for years, mistakenly believing that the problem is just a "lack of willpower", which delays seeking specialised medical help and perpetuates the exhausting cycle of suffering and guilt.

Binge eating is not a character flaw. It's a fully treatable medical and psychological condition that requires compassion and appropriate clinical tools, not more punitive diets.

At NeuroPsyque, we take a multidisciplinary approach to binge eating. Our treatment is structured around focused psychotherapy (such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), psychiatric assessment to stabilise mood and, where applicable, neuromodulation to optimise impulse control. Our commitment is to help you rebuild a safe, peaceful and healthy relationship with food, in an atmosphere of total empathy and free of any judgement.

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Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ's about Binge Eating

What's the difference between binge eating and bulimia?

Although both involve episodes of uncontrolled eating (binge eating), in binge eating the patient does not regularly resort to extreme compensatory methods to "undo" the eating, such as induced vomiting, excessive exercise or the use of laxatives, as is the case in binge eating. Bulimia.

Isn't binge eating really just a lack of willpower?

Categorically, no. Binge eating is a properly recognised and classified psychiatric illness. It involves complex neurobiological dysregulations in the brain's reward systems and often serves as a defence mechanism to deal with deep emotional pain or overload.

Do I need to go on a stricter diet to stop?

Highly restrictive diets are one of the biggest triggers for binge eating. Treatment focuses on emotional regulation, abandoning the "diet mentality" and implementing regular, flexible and conscious eating patterns.

Is psychiatric medication necessary for treatment?

It can be a very important ally, especially if there are other associated conditions, such as Severe depression, Anxiety or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Some drugs also help to modulate impulsivity and reduce the frequency and intensity of compulsive episodes.

Can Neuromodulation help with Binge Eating?

Yes. Advanced interventions such as Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (EMT) have proved useful in modulating the brain's prefrontal circuits, improving inhibitory control (impulse control when faced with food) and effectively treating the resistant depression that often accompanies and perpetuates this disease.

How do you take the first step without feeling so ashamed?

Shame is unfortunately one of the main symptoms of this disorder and the reason why people are so slow to seek support. At NeuroPsyque, we guarantee an absolutely confidential, safe and science-focused space. Our professionals are prepared to welcome you without any moral judgement about your body or your habits. The initial assessment is carried out in the Psychiatry. Contact us to book an assessment.