Many people prefer to address diet without medication, or cannot or should not use medication. A robust menu of evidence-based non-medication approaches exists.
Why Consider Non-Medication Approaches for Diet
Non-medication treatments for diet may be preferred when:
- Medication side effects are prohibitive
- The person is pregnant or nursing
- Diet is mild-to-moderate
- The person prefers to address root causes rather than symptoms
- Previous medication trials haven't been effective
Evidence-Based Non-Medication Treatments for Diet
Psychotherapy: CBT has the most evidence for diet and often matches medication in effectiveness for mild-moderate cases.
Exercise: Rigorous research shows exercise effects on diet comparable to antidepressants for many people.
Mindfulness-Based Interventions: MBSR and MBCT have strong evidence bases for diet.
Lifestyle Medicine: Sleep optimization, nutrition, and stress management have direct measurable effects.
Light Therapy: Especially effective for seasonally-influenced diet.
Combining Non-Medication Approaches
Multiple non-medication approaches used together typically outperform any single approach. Work with a professional to design an integrated non-medication treatment plan for diet.