Compulsive Overeating with Dr. Matthew Keene - Compulsive Overeating Overview Conference

Written by HealthyPlace.com Staff Writer

Dr.Tucker-Ladd: How do you teach "feeling management"?

Dr. Keene:It is a combination of improving coping skills through teaching increased expressiveness, assertiveness, boosting body image, and lifting self esteem. And I think there are a number of self-help books, including mine, which can teach you these skills without necessarily going through intensive psychotherapy. However, many compulsive overeaters may have some deeply rooted issues, such as sexual abuse, that require individual therapy.

BobM: Dr. Tucker-Ladd is going to be our guest tomorrow night. We'll be talking about: How effective are self-help techniques and what ones can be used to improve your life. We start all our conferences at 6p Pacific, 8 p.m. CST, 9 EST.

willowbear: Bob, did Dr. Keene talk about taking serotonin supplements? I see them in the health food stores all the time. Are they for real or a rip-off?

Dr. Keene: Nobody knows for sure yet. I assume you are referring to the herbal remedies offered. As I have said, some of my patients swear by St. John's Wort, while others wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole. There is good data to support St. John's Wort for treating depression, but not a single study has looked at whether if works for eating disorders.

Bob M:What about diet pills? Are they ever useful when it comes to compulsive overeating?

Dr. Keene: I don't think so. Diet pills treat a symptom, weight, not the disease.

Marsh: I've heard the meds only have a short term effect on the binging. What is your opinion?

Dr. Keene:Medicines have a short term effect in promoting weight loss. They appear to work better towards eliminating binge episodes. But again, you need to treat the right person with the right medicine and not assume that everyone needs pills to treat a disease that can often be treated with better feelings and better feeding.

Bob M:We have many people who visit our site, who go from eating disorder to eating disorder. From anorexia, to bulimia, onto compulsive overeating and back again or in combination. We are constantly being told, diets and weight loss programs are one of the key ingredients to the start of an eating disorder. Should someone who's been an overeater for a long time be concerned that by going on a "program," it could lead to anorexia or bulimia?

Dr. Keene: Let me answer this in several parts. Firstly, I think bulimia is often an evolution of compulsive overeating. Compulsive overeaters gain more and more weight until purging seems like a viable alternative. The same serotonin defects that exist in compulsive overeaters also exist in bulimics. I think true anorexia likely affects a different part of the brain. There is a condition known as bulexeremia that is best treated by combining treatment approaches for both anorexia and bulimia. I agree that diets and society's notion that rail thin beauty is the cultural ideal contributes to all eating disorders. That's why I prefer treating compulsive overeating as a disease with a meal plan for life versus diets which have a 98% failure.

wasted: Are serotonin levels different in anorexics as opposed to binge eaters?

Dr. Keene:Yes, anorexia really is a much more neurologically, chemically, as well as emotionally complicated illness.

Bry: You mentioned your eating program. It takes energy and commitment. How does one with binge eating get to the point that they can follow a program?

Dr. Keene:I think like any addiction, people need to get to the point in their life where making a major lifestyle change seems to be a priority. This is obviously a very personal matter. I think it is important to mention again the issue of relapses. Success is almost always preceded by failed attempts. In other words, to be a bit cliché..if at first you don't succeed...etc etc.

Bob M:I want to thank Dr. Keene for being our guest tonight and for staying late to answer extra questions. It's entitled "Chocolate is My Kryptonite: Feeding your Feelings/How to Survive the Forces of Food". Tomorrow night, Dr. Tucker- Ladd joins us for a discussion on the effectiveness of self-help and the techniques that may work best for you. We will be dealing with a variety of mental health issues. Thank you again Dr. Keene and to everyone in the audience for coming tonight.

Dr. Keene: Thank you for having me.

Kim4: Please express my "thanks" to Dr. Keene...it was great!

willowbear: Thank you Dr.Keene. It was very informative!!!!thanks Bob

Flyaway: Bob, thank you for this conference. It was very good. Thank you very much for your helpful information, Dr. Keene

Bob M: Good Night

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