Binge Eating Struggles May Be Linked to Birth Control

Struggling with binge eating? Your birth control choice might play a role, according to a new study. Researchers at Michigan State University found a link between monophasic combined oral contraceptives and increased emotional eating, a key indicator of binge eating disorder. The findings, published in JAMA Network Open, suggest that hormonal fluctuations from these pills could influence eating behaviors.

The team followed over 400 women over two pill cycles to see how many binge eating episodes they had when they used the active pill versus when they switched to the last week of the pack’s reminder pills. They found that the women were more likely to report emotional eating during the 21 days when they were using the combined pill versus the seven days when they took their inactive pills. The difference was significant, they claim, and happened in women with a Binge Eating Disorder diagnosis as well as women who didn’t have one.

Results showed that women were more likely to report emotional eating on days they took active pills compared to inactive ones. This pattern held even among those without a binge eating disorder diagnosis. The team noted that hormone levels—specifically generated by the combined pill—seemed to drive the behavior, not mood or body image concerns.

Monophasic pills keep estrogen and progesterone levels artificially stable for 21 days out of 28, mimicking the mid-luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Natural hormonal shifts typically trigger emotional eating only a few days a month, but the pills extend this period to three weeks out of four. This prolonged exposure may overwhelm the body’s regulatory mechanisms.

Study limitations include the lack of data on hormone level declines during the inactive pill phase. The synthetic hormones used have a short half-life, but progesterone and estrogen levels still dropped gradually. This makes some inactive pill days less comparable than others.

Women with binge eating disorder reported more emotional eating incidents overall but showed the same pattern of increased bingeing on active pill days. They also expressed greater concern about their weight compared to peers without the disorder.

The research highlights the complex relationship between hormones and eating behaviors. While monophasic pills are effective for contraception, they may not be ideal for those struggling with disordered eating.

Experts advise consulting a healthcare provider to discuss options. The study shows the need for personalized approaches to contraception, especially for those with eating disorder histories. Further research is needed to confirm long-term effects and explore other contraceptive methods.

Read the full paper here: Combined Oral Contraceptive Use and Binge Eating.