The prevalence and correlates of binge eating in a British community sample of women with a history of obesity

✍ Scribed by Robertson, David N. ;Palmer, Robert L.

• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 1997
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 192 KB
• Volume: 22
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0276-3478
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1098-108x(199711)22:3<323::aid-eat12>3.0.co;2-z

✦ Synopsis

Objective: To estimate the frequency of binge eating and binge eating disorder and their correlates in a sample of women with a history of obesity. Method: A group of women who had been found in a previous community study to have a body mass index Ն30 were studied using self-report measures (n ϭ 74) and interview (n ϭ 62). Results: One subject met criteria for binge eating disorder, while 24% reported binging. Subjects who reported binging were significantly more likely to have a past history of depressive illness. Discussion: Prevalence of binge eating, binge eating disorder, and psychopathology was broadly in keeping with that found in North America. In addition, there were nonsignificant trends towards a positive family history of obesity, of childhood obesity, of early onset of dieting, of excessive concern about weight and shape, and a recent history of weight reduction. Further study is required to elucidate the causes of binge eating in the obese.