Exploring weight gain in year before treatment for binge eating disorder: a different context for interpreting limited weight losses in treatment studies.
OBJECTIVE
To examine weight changes in obese patients with binge-eating disorder (BED) during the year before seeking treatment and to explore correlates of weight changes.


METHODS
Seventy-eight consecutive, treatment-seeking, obese BED patients were assessed with structured interviews and self-report questionnaires.


RESULTS
Overall, participants reported a mean weight gain of 15.1 pounds during the 12 months before treatment. This overall weight gain comprised remarkable heterogeneity, ranging from a 30-pound loss to a 53-pound gain. The subgroup of participants who reported gaining weight (76% of sample) reported gaining an average of 22.2 pounds during the 12 months before treatment. Weight change was associated with significantly more frequent binge eating and overeating during breakfasts.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment-seeking obese patients with BED reported having gained substantial amounts of weight during the previous year. These findings provide an important context for interpreting the modest weight losses typically reported by treatment studies of BED.
Blomquist
Kerstin K
KK
Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8098, USA. kerstin.blomquist@yale.edu
Barnes
Rachel D
RD
White
Marney A
MA
Masheb
Robin M
RM
Morgan
Peter T
PT
Grilo
Carlos M
CM
D000328:Adult; D056912:Binge-Eating Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D001835:Body Weight; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D010808:Physical Examination; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology*