Coaching offer for adolescents with Binge Eating Disorder in the Leipzig region
Adolescents suffering from binge eating attacks from in and around Leipzig can find help at the Integrated Research and Treatment Center (IFB) AdiposityDiseases.
They can participate in a four month-long coaching program which is tailored especially for adolescents (13 to 18 years). Once a week they meet their coach who is a specially trained psychologist at the IFB at the University Hospital. The coaching offer in Leipzig is unique in Germany; it starts in March 2012.
Binge eating attacks are widespread: around three percent of the population suffer from binge eating disorder (BED); among adolescents in weight reduction programs the number even climbs to up to 25 percent. The affected repeatedly ingest huge amounts of food, they feel like they are loosing control over their eating behavior and subsequently suffer from feelings of shame and guilt. Contrary to bulimia nervosa they do not take inappropriate countermeasures against gaining weight - such as vomiting, diets or excessive excercising. The coaching offer BEDA (Binge Eating Disorder in Adolescents) is helping girls and boys to normalize their eating behavior, to better deal with strain and pressure and to get a more positive self image. The BEDA coaching is based on an established program of cognitive behavior therapy for adults and has now been adjusted for adolescents for the first time. A 14-year old boy who participated in the coaching said: "I didn't dare to do it for a long time but it was really worth it. I once again feel good in my body and I can eat normally."
The longtime experience of project leader Prof. Anja Hilbert in research and treatment of binge eating disorder were implemented in the nationwide unique BEDA coaching program in Leipzig. "The coaching is scientifically accompanied in an anonymized form," explains Hilbert "with the aim to further improve the treatment of patients with binge eating disorder." There are online offers of the IFB in which adults suffering from BED are being attended to via phone and internet.
"The demand for coaching and therapy significantly increases the offer in Germany," says Hilbert. The expert emphasizes: "This eating disorder has been underestimated as the big psychological strain and the cause of obesity that it is until now and in the case of the adolescents at has virtually been ignored. Therefore the BEDA coaching is a huge step forward."
Interested and affected adolescents can adress the BEDA coaching team:
Phone: +49 341 / 97 15363; E-Mail: info [at] ess-stress [dot] de
Further information: www.ess-stress.de (in German).
Contact:
Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Anja Hilbert (Head BEDA study)
Professor for behavioral medicine
Integrated Research and Treatment Center (IFB) AdiposityDiseases
Stephanstr. 9c
04103 Leipzig
Tel.: +49(0)341 97-15361
Fax: +49(0)341 97-15368
E-Mail: anja [dot] hilbert [at] medizin [dot] uni-leipzig [dot] de
Keywords: obesity treatment, eating disorders, children & youths