title: Factor structure and predictive utility of the Binge Eating Scale in bariatric surgery candidates.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Screening for binge eating before bariatric surgery is a component of the recommended clinical practice for bariatric surgery candidates. The Binge Eating Scale (BES) is 1 of the most commonly used self-report measures of eating behaviors in preoperative evaluations; however, the factor structure of this measure has not been evaluated in the bariatric population. The aims of the present study were to report the mean, standard deviation, and reliability of the BES for patients seeking bariatric surgery; to evaluate the 2-factor structure of the BES using confirmatory factor analysis; and to investigate the association between the BES and its factors with surgical weight loss. The setting was an academic medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 530 patients completed the BES as a component of their psychological evaluation before undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Approximately one third of patients reported at least mild to moderate binge eating, with 9% of patients reporting severe binge eating on the BES. The BES demonstrated good internal consistency. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis indicated that a 2-factor structure, consisting of feelings/cognitions related to binge eating and behavioral manifestations of binge eating, was the best fit to the data. Nonsignificant correlations were found between the BES and its 2 factors with short-term postoperative weight loss.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The BES measures 2 aspects of binge eating in bariatric surgery candidates, feelings/cognitions and behavioral manifestations of binge eating. Consideration of these factors in patients presenting for bariatric surgery could allow for a more detailed understanding of binge eating in this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois. Electronic address: megan_hood@rush.edu.
authors.forename: Megan M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Hood
authors.forename: Allison E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Grupski
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Iulia
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ivan
authors.forename: Joyce
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Corsica
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002032:Bulimia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015390:Gastric Bypass / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D018579:Patient Selection; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011581:Psychological Tests / Q000592:standards*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult