title: Predictive factors of binge eating disorder in women searching to lose weight.
abstract: METHODS
  The aim of this study was to detect predictive factors of binge eating disorder (BED) in an out-patient obesity clinic. Eating behaviour, weight history and body composition were assessed in 138 consecutive patients. BED was diagnosed according to the criteria of appendix B of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The body mass index (BMI; p < 0.005) and the waist circumference (p < 0.05) were significantly higher in binge patients than in patients without eating disorders. Similar differences were observed between patients who regularly went through weight loss programmes and patients who consulted for the first time. The prevalence of BED increases with the degree of obesity and especially with the number of previous intentional weight loss programmes. A positive and significant correlation was found between the weight cycling syndrome and BMI (p < 0.0001), waist circumference (p < 0.0001) and body fat (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The patients with BED present a specific anthropometric profile and a typical behavioural pattern characterized by a higher degree of central obesity and a weight history with a higher number of attempts of weight loss.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital CHUV, Lausanne, Switzerland. vittorio.giusti@chuv.hospvd.ch
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Giusti
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Héraïef
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Gaillard
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Burckhardt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002032:Bulimia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015431:Weight Loss