Binge eating disorder is one of the most common eating disorders in the world, yet many people know very little about it.
People with this condition repeatedly eat unusually large amounts of food in a short time while feeling unable to stop or control their eating.
Afterwards, they often experience guilt, shame, sadness, or distress. Unlike some other eating disorders, binge eating is usually not followed by behaviors such as vomiting or excessive exercise.
The condition can seriously affect physical health, mental wellbeing, relationships, and quality of life.
It is also linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, anxiety, and depression. Despite affecting more than 17 million people worldwide, treatment options remain limited, and there are currently no medicines officially approved specifically for binge eating disorder.
A new study led by researchers at University College London (UCL) suggests that a group of medicines already widely used to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes could offer a new treatment option. The research, published in eClinicalMedicine, reviewed the best available evidence on GLP-1 receptor agonists, including semaglutide, tirzepatide, and liraglutide.
These medicines have become well known because they help many people lose weight by reducing appetite and making them feel full for longer. They also improve blood sugar control. Scientists have wondered whether these same effects might also help people who struggle with binge eating.
To answer this question, the UCL team carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis, bringing together results from 25 randomized controlled trials conducted in 12 countries across four continents. Altogether, the studies included 8,069 participants, making this the largest review yet examining these medicines and binge eating symptoms.
After combining all the available evidence, the researchers found that people taking GLP-1 medicines generally experienced fewer binge eating episodes, less emotional eating, and fewer episodes of feeling out of control around food.
These improvements appeared to go beyond weight loss alone. The medicines may influence areas of the brain involved in hunger, reward, cravings, and impulse control while also slowing stomach emptying and increasing feelings of fullness.
The review also found that participants reported greater dietary restraint, meaning they were more likely to consciously control how much they ate.
However, the researchers emphasized that it is still unclear whether this represents healthy self-control or whether it could sometimes become an unhealthy pattern of restrictive eating. More carefully designed studies are needed to answer this question.
The researchers also included people with lived experience of binge eating disorder when planning and interpreting the study. These contributors stressed that medicine alone is unlikely to produce lasting recovery. They highlighted the importance of psychological therapies, supportive relationships, and reducing social stigma around body weight and eating disorders.
The authors also pointed out several important limitations. Many of the included trials were funded by pharmaceutical companies, and most were judged to have a relatively high risk of bias. In addition, only a small number of participants had a formal diagnosis of binge eating disorder, making it difficult to know how well the results apply to people receiving specialist treatment.
The researchers say larger, independent clinical trials with longer follow-up are now needed before these medicines can be widely recommended for binge eating disorder. Future studies should include more people with confirmed diagnoses and examine whether the improvements continue after many months or years.
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