Book And Talking Therapy Helped Binge Eaters Cut Down, US Study

Crap. And an absolute waste of resources...read on.

New research from the US found that reading a self-help book and 12 weeks of talking therapy helped binge eaters cut down for up to a year, and saved them money.

Two studies on the research, by investigators from the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Wesleyan University and Rutgers University, are due to be published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology.

Affecting around 9 million Americans, or more than 3 per cent of the population, binge eating is the most common eating disorder in the US, yet there aren't many ways to treat it.

The condition has received a lot press recently because the American Psychiatric Association has recommended it be regarded as a separate, distinct eating disorder like bulimia and anorexia. This distinction could focus more attention on bingeing and how it should be treated, as well as affect the numbers diagnosed and how insurers will cover treatment, noted the authors...

"Binge eating is often accompanied by depression, shame, weight gain, loss of self-esteem and it costs the health care system millions of extra dollars," she added.

Described as the first of its kind, the first study found that more than 63 per cent of participants who took part had stopped bingeing by the end of the three-month program, compared to just over 28 per cent of non-participants, and another nine months later, 64 per cent of participants were "binge free" compared to 45 per cent of those who received the "usual care". The second study found that participants also saved money because they spent less on dietary supplements and weight loss programs...

The book explained the science behind binge eating and outlined a six-step self help approach that included self-monitoring, self-control and tips for problem solving.

The talking therapy was delivered by counsellors who explained how cognitive behavioral therapy works and helped the participants implement the suggestions in the book. The first session lasted for one hour and subsequent sessions lasted 20 to 25 minutes each.

The average cost of the program for the treatment group was $167 per participant.

Here are the numbers.

For the claimed $167, a fatso has a 19% greater chance of not binging after 12 months than if he or she had not participated in the program.

Since these researchers are advocating this program for the alleged 9 million "afflicted" by binge eating, the amount of money involved is $1,503,000,000 - over 1 and one-half BILLION dollars.

However, this figure may be grossly misleading.

The total cost for the treatment group was $3,670 per head per year...

At $3,670 per year, the money involved becomes $33,030,000,000 or over 33 BILLION dollars.

Also note "per year." This certainly implies that there may be more than one year of treatment.

These bucks go into the pockets of the programs, i.e., the therapists.

The money is expected to come from insurance, i.e., you and me:

The condition has received a lot (sic) press recently because the American Psychiatric Association has recommended it be regarded as a separate, distinct eating disorder like bulimia and anorexia. This distinction could focus more attention on bingeing and how it should be treated, as well as affect the numbers diagnosed and how insurers will cover treatment, noted the authors...

"It's a win-win for everyone", said Lynch, "this type of program is something that all health care systems should consider implementing".

Not true.

It is not a win-win for those of us footing the bills of the calorically irresponsible.

And the data do not show how miserably this program does past 12 months, where it can reasonably be expected to do worse.

Co-author Dr Lynn DeBar, a clinical psychologist at the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, cautioned that while the program appears to show promising results, anyone who is experiencing binge eating problems should first talk to their doctor before deciding whether this is the right program for them.

No matter.

Even if it is the "right program" for a fatso, and identifying who the pathetically small number of "successful" participants will be cannot be predicted, as long as we are expected to pay for it from our pooled insurance premiums, it is a 100% failure for us.

These psychologists are playing with our minds.

And our wallets/purses.