Metabolic determinants of binge eating.
Binge-eating behavior is often thought to be the consequence of energy restriction and dietary restraint. However, evidence is accumulating that recurrent eating binges may be one behavioral mechanism in the expression of familial obesity, and may therefore precede the onset of dieting. The profile of patients with the DSM-IV binge-eating disorder resembles that of patients with familial obesity. There is further evidence for the involvement of the endogenous opiate peptide system. Binge-type foods are often rich in fat, sugar, or both. The opiate antagonist naloxone reduced the consumption of sweet high-fat foods in obese and lean female binge-eaters, though not in nonbinging controls. In contrast, obese as opposed to lean subjects were not differentially affected by naloxone. These data provide a psychobiological validation of the DSM-IV binge eating disorder and suggest that binge eating may be triggered by physiological events. As opposed to being the outcome of dieting, binge-eating episodes should be considered as its possible cause.
Drewnowski
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University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor 48109-2029, USA.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002032:Bulimia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics; D018847:Opioid Peptides / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D018847:Opioid Peptides; D009270:Naloxone