title: Binge eating and menstrual dysfunction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The relation between eating disorders and menstrual function has been widely studied, but it is unknown whether the behavior of binge eating itself is related to menstrual dysfunction.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 11,503 women included in this study were from the Swedish Twin study of Adults: Genes and Environment. The associations between menstrual dysfunction and binge eating were analyzed using logistic regression or multiple linear regression models with generalized estimation equations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women who reported lifetime binge eating were more likely to report either amenorrhea or oligomenorrhea than women who reported no binge eating. These results persisted when controlling for compensatory behaviors including self-induced vomiting, laxative use, and diuretic use. No differences between women with and without a history of binge eating were observed for age at menarche.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Even when controlling for the effect of compensatory behaviors, the behavior of binge eating is associated with menstrual dysfunction. Metabolic and endocrinological factors could underlie this association. Careful evaluation of menstrual status is warranted for women with all eating disorders, not just anorexia nervosa.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Abo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Algars
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, United States.
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, United States.
authors.forename: Ann F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Von Holle
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, United States.
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Peat
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, United States.
authors.forename: Laura M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Thornton
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lichtenstein
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, United States; Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, United States. Electronic address: cbulik@med.unc.edu.
authors.forename: Cynthia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Bulik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002032:Bulimia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004232:Diuretics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054368:Laxatives / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009839:Oligomenorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012651:Self Medication; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D018433:Twin Studies as Topic; D014839:Vomiting
chemical_list: D004232:Diuretics; D054368:Laxatives
keywords: AN; Amenorrhea; BED; BMI; BN; Binge eating; Binge eating disorder; Menstruation; Oligomenorrhea; PCOS; anorexia nervosa; binge eating disorder; body mass index; bulimia nervosa; polycystic ovary syndrome