“What Should I Know Before Seeing My Doctor for Binge Eating Support?”

Lucy Newport • Jul 01, 2022

Reading time: 5 mins

I feel it’s particularly important to make this guide because although it’s getting better, binge eating disorder often isn’t very well understood or recognised, even by our doctors. Going to see a GP about your bingeing can be a really vulnerable thing and I know the feeling of being dismissed by a doctor after opening up in this way.

So, I want you to understand the realities of taking this route, whilst helping you to get into the best possible position to receive that support.

Most of the information is based on our health service here in the UK, but I hope there are also parts that are relevant wherever you are in the world.

Why visit your doctor

If you have come to a place in your binge eating journey where you feel ready for support, that is wonderful and I’m celebrating you for taking this step! Maybe you’ve started looking into your options and have seen that there is plenty of support available online and in person, in the form of therapists, counsellors and coaches.

It is however a simple fact that not everyone can afford or wants to go private in their binge eating recovery and that’s okay. It’s what our health service is for after all.

If that support is there for you and you want it - you should absolutely reach out and take it!

What the NHS can offer you

The NHS currently offers three forms of treatment for binge eating disorder [1] and what you receive is likely based on a combination of what your GP sees as the most appropriate, and what is available in your area.

All three treatments are CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) based, with the first one being a guided self-help programme. This means that you are given learning materials with actions to take in your own time.

The second type of treatment is group CBT sessions where you and others experiencing binge eating will have the opportunity to speak openly to a therapist, within the group setting. The third is individual CBT sessions where you have 1-1 sessions with your therapist.

Much of this treatment is based on the work of Professor Christopher Fairburn who founded the centre for Research on Eating Disorders and has pioneered treatments for adults [2]. To get a feel of what this treatment is like before visiting your GP, you can read Professor Fairburn's book ‘Overcoming Binge Eating’.

Getting prepared for your appointment

Information

As I mentioned at the beginning, not every doctor is clued up on binge eating and so it may help you to have some information with you to back up your case. This will require a bit of “reading the room” and tact during your appointment, as you probably don’t want to come across as though you’re telling your doctor how to do their job!

I recommend simply having the NHS binge eating disorder overview page loaded on your phone so that if needed, you can show them why you believe you need support with this.

Another great resource that you could have to hand is the Beat binge eating disorder overview. Beat is the UK’s eating disorder charity, founded by the Eating Disorders Association.

Expectations

If you want to get support via your doctor for binge eating then have a referral as your goal for the appointment. Go for that goal, but also set your expectations. Know that:

You may not be offered a referral on your first visit.
The level of support you want may not be given to you.
You may have to wait a significant period of time to begin treatment.
They may tell you to lose weight which is not a form of treatment in itself. This is stated by NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) in their 2017 guideline for psychological treatment for binge eating disorders [3]. NICE outlines evidence-based recommendations for healthcare and you can also show this resource to your doctor if needed.

Be good to you!

In the lead up to your appointment, acknowledge that you are doing a really brave thing. Celebrate yourself and take as best care of you as you can.

During your appointment

Stating your case

Your goal is to get support for binge eating and so state your case without holding back. If you feel completely out of control with food and your binges (most people who binge do), make sure you really get this across to your doctor. If you feel like you can, give them details or examples of your binges and how you feel after.

I know this can be a really scary and vulnerable thing, especially if you’re not used to talking about your binge eating with anyone, but it is important.

Weighing

Although people of all different weights have binge eating disorders, it’s likely that your doctor will want to weigh you during this appointment as part of their assessment. If being told your weight is a binge trigger for you, you can explain this to your doctor and ask them not to tell you your weight.

If you feel like you can be told your weight without it being a huge trigger, you can use this as a practice for not attaching your self-worth to your weight. See if you can acknowledge and accept the number without it having to mean anything about yourself in that moment.

After your appointment

You got referred

Great, I am so happy for you! Remember that there are tons of resources out there (including lots of free support) to help you in between now and your treatment beginning. You can also use this time to think about what you most want to get from your treatment so that you can clearly communicate this during your first session.

Make sure you’re also available for any scheduled calls or appointments in relation to your referral. There can be a waitlist to get this treatment and I know people who have lost support due to missing a single call. You don’t want that to be you!

You didn’t get referred

I’m really sorry that you didn’t get the support you need right now. I know how disappointing and frustrating it can feel. But, there is no reason why you can’t try again. Seeing the same doctor for a second time may help them to realise how important it is that you get help, or a different doctor might refer you straight away.

Whatever happens, don’t give up on the idea of recovery. If you don’t get anywhere with the NHS, there is lots of support out there. Maybe that looks like making the most of the free support, binge eating recovery books, paying for a low cost self-paced online programme or going all in with a therapist, counsellor or coach.

Looking for more help with finding the best binge eating recovery support for you? You’re in luck, take a look at these other articles and guides:

“Which Type of Binge Eating Support is Best for Me: Counselling, Therapy or Coaching?”

“What Level of Support Do I Need to Heal from Binge Eating: 1-1, Group or Self-paced?”

“Who Do You Recommend I Work With in My Binge Eating Recovery?”

References