Associated factors for self-reported binge eating among male and female adolescents

As part of an epidemiological study, adolescents aged 12-19 (n = 3287) filled out a self-administered questionnaire concerning their eating behaviours. The analysis showed that binge eaters (BE) had disorderly eating habits (skipping meals, snacking, eating sweets, unbalanced diets), concern with body shape (feeling too fat) and depressive symptoms more often than non binge-eaters (NBE) did. This relationship between binging episodes on the one hand, and eating habits, concern with body shape, and depressiveness on the other, has been observed for both sexes, in separate logistic regression analyses.