Stress-induced laboratory eating behavior in obese women with binge eating disorder

To compare the microstructural eating behavior of obese patients with and without binge eating disorder (BED) after stress induction in laboratory.

Forty-eight obese women were investigated. Seventeen were assigned to the group of BED. Group (BED vs. non-BED) by condition (stress vs. no stress) interaction effect on feeding variables, measured by a universal eating monitor, was tested. Stress was induced by the trier social stress test (TSST) and chocolate pudding served as laboratory food.

From the nonstress to the stress condition, patients with BED, when compared with non-BED had a greater increase in average eating rate (p < .01) and a corresponding greater increase in the frequency of spoonfuls (p < .02). The BED group also showed a different change in acceleration/deceleration from the nonstress to the stress condition compared to the non-BED group (p < .04).

Obese individuals with BED appear to exhibit a different response to stress than obese non-BED individuals and individuals with bulimia nervosa.