[Binge eating and obesity in children]

Emerging evidence suggests that subgroups of obese children, including children with binge eating, suffer from an increased psychopathology. The current study provides an overview of research on binge eating disorder (BED) symptomatology in childhood. Data from a community-based investigation in children aged 8-13 years show that binge episodes co-occurred with eating concerns, weight and shape concerns, depressiveness, and overweight and obesity, but not with psychiatric diagnoses or general behavioral disturbances. Recurrent binge eating was associated with clinically significant eating disorder psychopathology, but a BED diagnosis was present in only a few cases. The DSM-IV criteria and further proposed research criteria for children showed low to moderate associations with binge eating frequency. Psychological characteristics associated with recurrent binge eating in children are in need of further study.