title: Binge eating, body mass index, and gastrointestinal symptoms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Symptoms of both gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are frequently reported by individuals who binge eat. Higher body mass index (BMI) has also been associated with these disorders and with binge eating (BE). However, it is unknown whether BE influences GERD/IBS and how BMI might affect these associations. Thus, we examined the potential associations among BE, GERD, IBS, and BMI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were from the Swedish Twin study of Adults: Genes and Environment (STAGE) and provided information on disordered eating behavior, BMI, gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, and commonly comorbid psychiatric and somatic illnesses. Key features of GERD and IBS were identified to create modified definitions of both disorders that were used as primary outcome variables. Logistic regression models were applied to determine the association between BE and each GERD/IBS both independently and in the context of BMI and other commonly comorbid psychiatric and somatic morbidities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence estimates for GERD and IBS were higher among women than men (all p-values<.001). Only the association between BE and IBS was significant in both men and women after adjustment for BMI and the psychiatric/somatic morbidities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BE appears to be an important consideration in the presence of IBS symptoms in both men and women, even when considering the impact of BMI and other commonly comorbid conditions. This association underscores the importance of routine assessment of BE in patients presenting with IBS to effectively manage the concurrent presentation of these problems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Peat
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Laura M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Thornton
authors.forename: Ann F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Von Holle
authors.forename: Sara E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Trace
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lichtenstein
authors.forename: Nancy L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: D Wayne
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Overby
authors.forename: Cynthia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Bulik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002032:Bulimia; D015897:Comorbidity; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence
keywords: Binge eating; Body mass index; Gastroesophageal reflux disease; Irritable bowel syndrome