title: Psychosocial factors associated with binge eating among overweight and obese male veterans.
abstract: The study's primary objective is to compare psychosocial characteristics of overweight/obese male Veterans who report binge eating with those who do not report binge eating. Participants include 111 overweight/obese male Veterans who completed questionnaires assessing binge eating, depression, stress, body image, self-efficacy for healthy eating and physical activity, and barriers to physical activity. Of the study sample, 25.2% are classified as binge eaters. Binge eating status is not significantly associated with age, race/ethnicity, weight, or BMI. Binge eating is associated with higher scores on measures of depression, barriers to exercise, self-classified weight, and lower self-efficacy for both healthy eating and exercise, but is not associated with body satisfaction or recent stress. Findings suggest that a sizable minority of overweight/obese male Veterans engage in binge eating. Depressive symptoms, self-efficacy, and perceived barriers all significantly predicted binge eating. These findings have implications both for identification of overweight/obese men at risk for binge eating disorder as well as for weight loss treatment in the Veteran population.
authors.affiliation: VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT 06516, USA.
authors.forename: Patricia H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Rosenberger
authors.forename: Lindsey
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dorflinger
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology; D002032:Bulimia / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Binge eating; Obesity; Overweight; Veterans