Binge eating is a significant eating disorder and more than just the occasional over indulgence.
A new study at the University of Calgary is looking at the disorder and ways to address it.
Binge eaters are unable to stop themselves and often use the food as a way of coping with emotions or stress.
The goal of the study is to determine if a self-help book combined with telephone contact with a therapist once a week can help binge eaters.
Phil Masson is launching the project to evaluate the self-help approach.
"Giving people some more skills to cope with and deal with the binge eating prevents the binge eating," said Masson.
Nancy Anderson-Dolan says for many years she couldn't stop eating and her weigh was up to 300 pounds.
‘I had food in my pockets, I ate before I went for dinner, and I'd eat after I came home." said Anderson-Dolan.
Binge eating affects up to 4% of Canadians and unlike other eating disorders affects almost as many men as women.
For more information on joining the study contact Phil Masson at 403-210-9438 or email him at pcmasson@ucalgary.ca
