New study from FSU reveals the connection between weight loss and binge eating in women with eating disorders
Florida – A groundbreaking study from Florida State University (FSU) has uncovered crucial biological and behavioral links between weight loss and binge eating in women with bulimia nervosa and other related eating disorders. The research, led by Pamela Keel, Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor in FSU’s Department of Psychology, sheds light on the complex mechanisms that contribute to excessive food intake in those struggling with binge eating. By examining the roles of key hormones in appetite regulation, this study could pave the way for better treatments for eating disorders that have long affected millions.
Keel’s study identifies the biological consequences of weight loss and how these changes contribute to the compulsive nature of binge eating. “When somebody loses weight, they put themselves in this ‘psychobiological bind,’” Keel explained. “We live in a culture that values weight loss, so psychologically, you’re motivated to keep the weight off. But biologically, your body is not designed to maintain that weight loss. Caught between a desire to be thin and strong urges to eat more food, weight suppression could trap people in cycles of bingeing and purging.” These findings highlight a vicious cycle that often underpins eating disorders, particularly bulimia nervosa.
The study focused on the concept of weight suppression, which is defined as the difference between an individual’s highest and current weight. Researchers found that greater weight suppression is directly linked to lower levels of leptin, a hormone released from fat tissue that signals the brain about the body’s energy reserves. In addition, reduced leptin levels were associated with a diminished release of GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide 1), a hormone secreted by the intestine in response to food intake. GLP-1 plays a key role in signaling to the brain when enough food has been consumed. This finding is significant because it was previously unknown that the reduced release of GLP-1 contributes to a person’s inability to feel full after eating, thus driving the need to consume more food to feel satiated.
“Prior to this research, the middle of the equation – GLP-1 and satiation deficits – was completely missing, and that missing part is crucial for advancing treatment for bulimia and related disorders,” Keel stated. The discovery of this missing link between lower GLP-1 levels and binge eating represents a major step forward in understanding the biological underpinnings of bulimia and other eating disorders, and it opens up new possibilities for improving treatment options.
The study’s implications for treatment are far-reaching. One of the key findings emphasizes the importance of assessing not only an individual’s current weight but also their weight history when evaluating patients with eating disorders. This is a critical insight for clinicians who have often focused on the patient’s present weight in isolation. The study also suggests that medications that affect GLP-1 receptors, such as those approved by the FDA for type 2 diabetes and weight loss, may have potential applications in managing binge eating. These medications could offer a new avenue for treatment, especially when combined with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which remains the first-line treatment for bulimia and other eating disorders.
“This research offers novel insights as the first project to link biological consequences of weight loss, namely lower leptin and reduced GLP-1, to eating larger amounts of food, which is a core feature of binge eating,” said co-author Lindsay Bodell, a professor at Western University in Ontario, Canada. “These findings point to new directions for treatment, offering hope to those affected by eating disorders.” With this new understanding of how weight loss influences biological factors, healthcare professionals now have the tools to develop more effective treatments for individuals struggling with these complex disorders.
The study was based on an extensive sample of nearly 400 women who ranged in weight and had varying diagnoses of eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, and other specified feeding and eating disorders. By including women with a broad range of conditions, the study aimed to uncover the underlying mechanisms that contribute to binge eating across different diagnoses, making the findings more widely applicable.
The research was funded by a generous $2.1 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), as well as additional support from Florida State University through the U.S. Department of Education Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. These funds were essential in supporting the research, which continues to yield critical insights into the complex nature of eating disorders and their treatment.
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For many individuals with bulimia and other eating disorders, these findings provide hope for more effective treatment strategies. The study emphasizes the need for a comprehensive understanding of both biological and behavioral factors when addressing eating disorders. By considering the role of hormones like leptin and GLP-1, clinicians can better tailor treatments to address the specific challenges faced by individuals with these conditions.
“This research is a game-changer for how we think about and treat bulimia and related eating disorders,” Keel said. “With these findings, we can now move toward more targeted therapies that focus on the biological basis of binge eating, while also addressing the psychological factors that drive it.”
As the understanding of eating disorders continues to evolve, these findings from Florida State University represent a significant step toward more effective treatments and improved outcomes for those affected by bulimia and other related disorders. By integrating biological research with behavioral science, Keel and her colleagues have laid the groundwork for a new era of care for individuals struggling with these life-altering conditions.
