[Short questionnaire for detecting abnormal eating behavior (binge eating). Test results in 320 persons with normal...

Abnormal eating behavior (binge eating) is widespread, yet very often remains undetected in general medical practice because of the secretiveness of the affected person. A screening questionnaire (KFzE, 8 items, range 0-6) was developed to diagnose this specific eating disorder. Questions relating to or implying psychopathological aspects were excluded to avoid any stigmatization.

A partial score (TSc3) was calculated from the ratings of three core symptoms (1. uncontrollable urge to eat; 2. thinking of food; 3. feeling of satiety). In addition, the ratings of five symptoms depicting more nonspecific aspects of eating abnormalities were added to calculate a total score (GSc8).

Based on the score values and cut-off points (the latter derived from the frequency distributions of TSc and GSc), patients suffering from bulimia nervosa without overweight or obesity (BN, group I, n = 51, BMI<25 kg/m2) as well as those with binge eating syndrome very often (91%) associated with overweight or obesity (BES, group II, n = 80, BMI>25 kg/m2) were clearly distinguishable from overweight or obese persons without binge eating (group III, n = 70) and healthy female controls (group IV, n = 119). The small differences in the mean scores between patients with BN and those with BES confirm earlier results obtained with other questionnaires. Moreover, results of the BITE questionnaire (Bulimia Investigatory Test Edinburgh), a proven method for diagnosing binge eating from its symptom subscale (30 items), correspond well with the results obtained from the KFzE for both groups of patients. The KFzE shows good psychometric characteristics such as test-retest reliability (0,92) and internal consistency (a= 0,87)

The described method gives medical practitioners a simple way of screening a large number of patients of normal weight, overweight or obesity who need careful and early evaluation of a previously unrecognized eating disorder. It can be used for ongoing monitoring as well as for following any type of therapeutic approach in persons with binge eating.