Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2007 Jan-Feb;32(1):95-105.
doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsl012. Epub 2006 Jun 25.

Binge eating in overweight treatment-seeking adolescents

Deborah R Glasofer  1 , Marian Tanofsky-Kraff, Kamryn T Eddy, Susan Z Yanovski, Kelly R Theim, Margaret C Mirch, Samareh Ghorbani, Lisa M Ranzenhofer, David Haaga, Jack A Yanovski
Affiliations

Binge eating in overweight treatment-seeking adolescents

Deborah R Glasofer et al. J Pediatr Psychol. 2007 Jan-Feb.

Abstract

Objective: To examine the frequency and recency of binge eating in relation to psychopathology in overweight, treatment-seeking adolescents.

Methods: We investigated psychological correlates of the frequency and recency of reported loss of control (LOC) eating episodes in 160 overweight (body mass index [BMI]: 40.7 +/- 8.8 kg/m(2)) adolescents. On the basis of the responses to the eating disorder examination (EDE), participants were categorized into one of four groups: full-syndrome binge eating disorder (BED); recent but infrequent binge eating (episodes within the 3 months before interview; RECENT-BINGE); remote and infrequent LOC eating (episodes occurring >3 months before assessment; PAST-LOC), or no history of LOC episodes (NE).

Results: The BED group reported higher EDE scores (global, p < .01), and more negative mood and anxiety than all other groups (p's < .01). Compared with NE, RECENT-BINGE also reported more anxiety and higher EDE scores (p's < .01).

Conclusions: Overweight, treatment-seeking adolescents with BED are clearly distinguishable from teens without the disorder on measures of eating-related psychopathology, mood, and anxiety. RECENT-BINGE, but not PAST-LOC, is also associated with significantly greater eating-related and general psychopathology.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(A) Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) subscale scores of participants endorsing no episode (NE), loss of control eating in the past (PAST-LOC), binge eating in the past 3 months (RECENT-BINGE), and binge eating disorder (BED). Socioeconomic status (SES) was a significant covariate for the EDE restraint subscale. For the EDE eating concern subscale, SES and site served as covariates. (B) Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI) subscale scores. For the CDI negative mood, interpersonal, and anhedonia subscales, site served as a covariate. Site and age were covariates for the CDI negative self-esteem subscale. Bars differing in letters are significantly different.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(A) STAIC trait anxiety scores and (B) Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) internalizing and externalizing t-scores of participants endorsing no episode (NE), loss of control eating in the past (PAST-LOC), binge eating in the past 3 months (RECENT-BINGE), and binge eating disorder (BED). Body mass index (BMI-SD) was a covariate for the CBCL externalizing subscale. Bars differing in letters are significantly different.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Number of loss of control (LOC)/binge eating episodes in the past 3 months versus (A) Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) shape concern subscale scores: r2 = .27, p < .01; (B) EDE weight concern subscale scores: r2 = .18, p < .01; (C) STAIC trait anxiety scores: r2 = .16, p < .01; and (D) CDI total scores: r2 = .10, p < .01. Number of LOC or binge eating episodes was log-transformed for analysis, with those having no episodes coded as having 0.05 episodes per 3 months and those with LOC eating in the past coded as having 0.25 episodes per 3 months.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Achenbach TM, Elderbrook C. Manual for the Child Behavior Checklist and Revised Child Behavior Profile. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont Department of Psychiatry; 1991.
    1. Ackard DM, Neumark-Sztainer D, Story M, Perry C. Overeating among adolescents: Prevalence and associations with weight-related characteristics and psychological health. Pediatrics. 2003;111:67–74. - PubMed
    1. American Psychiatric Association (APA) Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders—text revision. 4. Washington, DC: Author; 2000.
    1. Berkowitz R, Stunkard AJ, Stallings VA. Binge-eating disorder in obese adolescent girls. Annals of the New York Academy of Science. 1993;699:200–206. - PubMed
    1. Bryant-Waugh RJ, Cooper PJ, Taylor CL, Lask BD. The use of the eating disorder examination with children: A pilot study. International Journal of Eating Disorders. 1996;19:391–397. - PubMed

Publication types