Why Do I Binge Eat - The Transdiagnostic Model

(And how will knowing why I started help me stop)

There are four main theories of why people begin binge eating. The main topic I will discuss regarding the transdiagnostic model is the overvaluation of shape and weight. If you have any kind of unusual eating habits, you likely overvalue your shape and weight. This means that thoughts about your body influence your emotions and behaviors. Within the article, I will dive into my own experiences with body image and provide some tools I have used to deal with my struggles. 

What is the Transdiagnostic model?

The transdiagnostic model was developed by a team of clinical researchers led by Allison Harvey in the UK in 2004. Fairburn and colleagues then created a transdiagnostic cognitive behavioral model for eating disorders. The main idea behind the transdiagnostic model is that eating disorders in general are more similar to one another than they are different. 

It suggests that the major common characteristic that all eating disorders have is: 

Overvaluation of shape and weight

The model than goes on to suggest that this characteristic leads to, 

1. Restriction/dieting 

Which in turn leads to 

1. Anorexia 

2. Binge eating 

3. Bulimia 

4. Etc.

The model suggests that because eating disorders are more similar than different, that we can approach all ED’s (eating disorders) in the same way. The current standard treatment for any ED is CBT-E (a type of cognitive behavioral therapy). I go over this in my article here.

Although not everyone agrees with this model, it is a useful start when first exploring one's own eating disorder (1).

Addressing Overvaluation of shape and weight

I remember the day my therapist suggested that I may have an overvaluation of shape and weight. I was explaining that how I look and therefore what I eat is important. Why would I not want to look the best that I can? I was telling her that as a woman I feel we are more inclined to get the jobs, partners, even friends, that we may strive for if we are conventionally attractive. As a child I was encouraged to be myself but also to put effort into how I looked. And it makes sense, our parents only want to see us succeed, and looking better often gives us the opportunity to go further in life. 

I still believe this. However, I ALSO believe that I had an overvaluation of shape and weight. My appearance was always in the forefront of my mind. If I aced a test that day but had a bad food day, it was still a bad day. If I supported a friend in a hard time but binged that morning, I was still failing as a person. Unbeknownst to me, food and my appearance was the only thing that determined if I had a good or bad day, and therefore if I was failing or succeeding in becoming the person I wanted to be. 

Although I still struggle with this, I can at least tell you all what my therapist said. She suggested that I write out a chart of all the things that I value about myself (being a good friend, supporting family, dedication to learning, being a good dog mom, etc.). She told me to hang this up in my room, and to remind myself everyday that my value does not come SOLELY from what I eat or don’t eat. That doesn’t mean that food isn’t still important to me, it just means that I am so much more than the food I eat. 

I also began using the radical acceptance tool to remind myself that my body cannot be changed in one day, as well as the cognitive distortion identification tool to see if my thoughts about my body were actually true or if they were just an over exaggeration of my feelings.

I made a self-guided workbook called "Help! I Can't Stop Eating" that includes these tools, and many others to help guide you through your recovery journey if you are interested. It can be found under the “Coming Soon” tab. 

Resources

1. Body image. (n.d.). NEDC. https://nedc.com.au/eating-disorders/eating-disorders-explained/body-image