The difficulty in defining binge eating in obese women: how it affects prevalence levels in presurgical bariatric patients

Elise L Coker; Astrid von Lojewski; Georgina M Luscombe; Suzanne F Abraham

doi:10.1016/j.eatbeh.2015.01.014

The difficulty in defining binge eating in obese women: how it affects prevalence levels in presurgical bariatric patients

Eat Behav. 2015 Apr;17:130-5. doi: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2015.01.014. Epub 2015 Feb 7.

Authors

Elise L Coker¹, Astrid von Lojewski², Georgina M Luscombe³, Suzanne F Abraham⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Sydney, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia. Electronic address: elisecoker@gmail.com.
² Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Sydney, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia; Life Weight Loss Centre, Suite 2, Level 4, 171 Bigge Street, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia.
³ The School of Rural Health, The University of Sydney, PO Box 1191, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia.
⁴ Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Sydney, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia.

PMID: 25704360
DOI: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2015.01.014

Abstract

Objective: We aim to determine how increasing the specificity of binge eating criteria affects the prevalence of self-reported binge eating among presurgical bariatric patients.

Method: 197 women ages 20 to 65 being assessed for bariatric surgery with a BMI greater than 30kg/m(2) were interviewed and completed the Eating and Exercise Examination.

Results: The prevalence of self-reported binge eating was 55% (n=109). The addition of the criterion 'more than a little loss of control/distress' reduced the rate to 23% (n=45), a minimum of six servings of food reduced the rate to 34% (n=67). The addition of a minimum frequency of twice per week for six months (DSM-VI) reduced the rate to 22% (n=43), or once per week for three months (DSM-5) reduced the rate to 53% (n=104).

Discussion: More precise definitions and diagnostic criteria for binge eating may result in more consistent reports of prevalence levels of BED.

Keywords: Bariatric surgery; Binge eating; Criteria; Obese; Prevalence.

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Bariatric Surgery
Bulimia / diagnosis*
Bulimia / epidemiology
Female
Humans
Middle Aged
Obesity / psychology*
Obesity / surgery
Prevalence
Reproducibility of Results
Self Report*
Terminology as Topic*
Young Adult