title: Binge eating in obese adolescents: emotional and behavioral characteristics and impact on health-related quality of life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study explored binge eating among an adolescent obese population to ascertain the prevalence of bingeing, the relationship between binge eating and body mass index (BMI), and to evaluate significant relationships between binge eating, emotional/behavioral functioning, and health-related quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants included 102 overweight adolescents aged 12-17 years presenting to a multidisciplinary outpatient obesity clinic. Data obtained included height, weight, and self-report questionnaire data on emotional and behavioral functioning.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Binge eating prevalence included 33% moderate to severe binge eating. Binge eating was significantly positively related to BMI and depression, negative mood, feelings of ineffectiveness, negative self-esteem and significantly negatively related to somatic complaints and all aspects of health-related quality of life. Important demographic differences emerged with regard to the impact of binge eating on health-related quality of life with Caucasians, females, and older groups experiencing more pervasive impact.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This research suggests that bingeing behaviors have pervasive and important implications for health-related quality of life for obese adolescents.
authors.affiliation: 1Marywood University, USA.
authors.forename: Tracie L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Pasold
authors.forename: Andy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McCracken
authors.forename: Wendy L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Ward-Begnoche
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002032:Bulimia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D044465:White People / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Obesity; adolescents; binge eating; health-related quality of life