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Binge eating in overweight women
M de Zwaan1, D O Nutzinger, G Schoenbeck
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Vienna, Austria.
Comprehensive Psychiatry
|July 1, 1992
Summary
Binge eating affects over a third of obese women in weight-loss programs, often starting in childhood and linked to psychological issues. This behavior did not impact weight loss outcomes in the study.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Obesity Research
Background:
- Binge eating is a significant concern in obesity treatment.
- Understanding its prevalence and characteristics is crucial for effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of binge eating in obese women undergoing weight reduction.
- To characterize the behavioral and psychological features of binge eating in this population.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 64 obese women in a weight-reduction program was assessed.
- Self-report and clinical interviews were used to identify binge eating episodes and loss of control.
- Psychological assessments included body image distortion and depressive symptomatology.
Main Results:
- 34.4% of participants reported recurrent binge eating episodes.
- Binge eaters were younger at treatment presentation, had higher childhood obesity rates, and started dieting earlier.
- Binge eating was associated with more psychological problems, including body image distortion and depressive symptoms.
- No correlation was found between binge eating and weight at baseline or weight loss during therapy.
- Fluvoxamine showed no specific benefit for weight loss in this subgroup.
Conclusions:
- Binge eating is prevalent in obese women in weight-loss programs and is associated with earlier onset of obesity and psychological distress.
- Binge eating behavior in obese women shares similarities with bulimia nervosa.
- Binge eating did not predict weight loss outcomes in this study, and pharmacotherapy with fluvoxamine was not beneficial for weight reduction.