title: Binge eating symptoms, diet composition and metabolic characteristics of obese children and adolescents.
abstract: This study aimed to determine the occurrence of symptoms of binge eating (BE) among children and adolescents seeking treatment for their obesity, as well as to evaluate their diet composition and metabolic characteristics. The Binge Eating Scale (BES) was answered by 128 children and adolescents (10.77+/-2.04 years, BMI 29.15+/-4.98 kg/m2, BMI Z score 2.28+/-0.46, 53.91% pubescent), who were classified into two subgroups--binge eaters (score greater than or equal to 18 points) and non-binge eaters (score lower than 18 points). Anthropometric data, body composition and Tanner stages were collected and dietary evaluation conducted. Blood pressure was determined, and glucose, lipid profile and insulin assays were performed. Insulin resistance was determined using HOMA-IR. BE symptoms were present in 39.06% of patients. Carbohydrate intake in diet composition was significantly higher among binge eaters. Children with BE did not demonstrate significant dissimilar metabolic characteristics when compared to their counterparts without BE. Therefore, BE seems to be a prevalent problem among children and adolescents seeking help for their obesity. When associated with obesity, this eating behaviour can influence macronutrient consumption through increased carbohydrate intake. Further research would be valuable to verify the reproducibility of these findings.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Molecular Studies in Obesity-LIM-25, University of São Paulo Medical School, Avenida Doutor Arnaldo, 455-Sala 4305, São Paulo-SP CEP 01246-903, Brazil. barbaralourenco@usp.br
authors.forename: Barbara H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Lourenço
authors.forename: Thais
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arthur
authors.forename: Mariana D B
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Guazzelli
authors.forename: Eliana
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Frazzatto
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Deram
authors.forename: Christiane Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Nicolau
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Halpern
authors.forename: Sandra M F
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Villares
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002032:Bulimia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D004032:Diet; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires