Integrated Care for Binge Eating and Other Eating Disorders

Binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, and anorexia nervosa, particularly milder cases, often go unrecognized and untreated in primary care practice settings. Eating disorders are frequently associated with shame, and masked by other prominent physical and psychiatric conditions that demand attention. Among adults, binge eating disorder, the most prevalent of the eating disorders, occurs with increasing frequency, in tandem with higher rates and degrees of obesity, across all age ranges, and in both genders. Bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa are more common in females, and although they are most often seen in pediatric and adolescent medicine practices cases, they are also seen in adult practice populations. This chapter describes pathways by which primary care practices can implement integrated and collaborative care treatment programs, likely to benefit large numbers of patients, and effectively coordinate with specialist levels of care, as necessary.