GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Binge-eating is a condition where a person eats uncontrollably. It affects up to 4 percent of all Americans.

Binge-eaters binge -- on average -- at least two days per week for at least six months. There are no federally approved treatments for binge-eating, but now one drug helps binge-eaters limit uncontrolled eating.

Emily Wollman has been dieting most of her life, but avoiding food often did more harm than good.

"I would go and get anything that I had been deprived of," Wollman said. She would eat up to three pints of ice cream and a half box of cookies during a binge. She said it deflected issues she didn't want to deal with.

"Food becomes like the Band-Aid you put on your emotional wounds," she said.

Dr. Nathan Shapira, a psychiatrist at the University of Florida in Gainesville, said binge-eating is a common outlet for emotions. Now he's trying to stop the binging with the anticonvulsant drug topiramate or topamax.

"One of the mechanisms of this compound may have a direct effect on, say, the satiety center or the appetite disregulation," Shapira said.

Earlier studies in epilepsy patients show the drug lessened appetites.

"About 80 percent of them had completely stopped binge-eating on topiramate, versus about a quarter on placebo. People would typically go from binge-eating five times a week, down to one or less a week," Shapira said.

For some, that was a surprise.

"They described that they used to be able to eat a Big Mac and fries, and now all they could eat was a Happy Meal, and it was very disturbing to them," Shapira said.

For Wollman, coming to peace with herself and her body helped defeat her binging.

"I've gotten to the point where I can even -- when I'm really connected to myself -- like, cook a bowl full of spaghetti and, to the strand, know how much to put on the plate," she said.

But for those who need an extra push, help is on the way.

About 20 sites across the country are beginning trials to further test topiramate for binge-eating disorders that are associated with obesity. Researchers are hoping to enroll 360 patients. Topiramate is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for epilepsy.

If you would like more information, please contact:

Nikki Ricciuti, R.N., LMHC
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
(352) 265-0162

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