The purpose of this study is to determine whether methylphenidate is effective in the treatment of binge eating disorder, in a randomized controlled trial extended release methylphenidate versus cognitive behavioral therapy for binge eating disorder in overweight or obese adult females.

Fifty-six adult female outpatients with binge eating disorder will receive 12 weeks of methylphenidate (dosage 18-72 mg) or 12 sessions of manualized cognitive behavioral therapy. Participants will complete interviewer-rated and self-report measures of eating, mood, attention, and personality features before treatment, after 6 weeks of treatment, immediately after treatment is completed, and 3 months after treatment is completed.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Clinical diagnosis of Binge-Eating Disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition
• Body Mass Index ≥ 25
• Must be fluent in English
• Must be capable to give informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Current pregnancy or lactation
• Psychotherapy or behavioural treatment for eating or weight initiated during the past month
• Psychotropic or investigational medications initiated / changed during the past three months
• Concomitant use of another psychostimulant
• Current mental disorders that are acute/unstable, that require alternate treatment, and/or that preclude ability to complete research protocol including mania, psychosis, substance use (alcohol or drugs), dementia, organic brain disorders, mental retardation
• Current severe suicidality or homicidality
• Current uncontrolled medical conditions that affect weight or BED symptoms or that are contraindicated for methylphenidate including metabolic, neurological, hepatic, renal, cardiovascular, hematological, ophthalmic, or endocrine diseases
• Other serious medical illness or event such as acute myocardial infarction or stroke during the past six months
• History of seizures or tics in the past year
• Diagnosis or family history of Tourette's
• Clinically relevant laboratory results, including: Tachycardia as indicated by heart rate > 110; Hypertension as indicated by blood pressure parameters > 140 (systolic) and 90 (diastolic); Arrhythmias or conduction abnormalities as indicated by ECG parameters QTC> 460msec, QRS>120 msec, and PR>200 msec; Abnormal laboratory results (e.g., hypokalemia) as indicated by values > 20% above the upper range of the laboratory standard of a basic metabolic screen
• Current medications that affect weight
• Current medications that are contraindicated for methylphenidate