Binge eating in overweight treatment-seeking adolescents.
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.
Glasofer
Deborah R
DR
Unit on Growth and Obesity, DEB, NICHD, NIH, 10 Center Drive, CRC, Room 1-3330 MSC 1103, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1103, USA.
Tanofsky-Kraff
Marian
M
Eddy
Kamryn T
KT
Yanovski
Susan Z
SZ
Theim
Kelly R
KR
Mirch
Margaret C
MC
Ghorbani
Samareh
S
Ranzenhofer
Lisa M
LM
Haaga
David
D
Yanovski
Jack A
JA
D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D050177:Overweight; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*