Overweight, obesity, and binge eating in a non-clinical sample of five Brazilian cities.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between obesity/overweight and binge eating episodes (BEEs) in a large nonclinical population.


METHODS
Consumers at shopping centers in five Brazilian cities (N = 2858) who participated in an overweight prevention program were interviewed and had weight and height measured to calculate BMI.


RESULTS
Prevalence of overweight (BMI = 25 to 29.9 kg/m2) was 46.6% for men and 36.6% for women. Obesity (BMI > or = 30 kg/m2) was about two-thirds of the prevalence of overweight. BEEs (subjects who binged one or more times per week over the last 3 months) in normal-weight individuals was 1.4% for men and 3.9% for women, whereas in overweight/obese, these prevalences were 6.5% and 5.5%, respectively (p < 0.01). After adjustment for age, socioeconomic variables, and childhood obesity, those who reported BEEs had an odds ratio of being overweight/obese of 3.31 (95% confidence interval: 1.11 to 9.85) for men and 1.73 (95% confidence interval: 1.05 to 2.84) for women.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate a strong association between episodes of binge eating and overweight/obesity, mainly among men.
Siqueira
Kamile S
KS
Department of Epidemology, Social Medicine Institute, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. kamile@ims.uerj.br
Appolinario
Jose C
JC
Sichieri
Rosely
R
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002032:Bulimia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012727:Sex Characteristics