title: The difficulty in defining binge eating in obese women: how it affects prevalence levels in presurgical bariatric patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aim to determine how increasing the specificity of binge eating criteria affects the prevalence of self-reported binge eating among presurgical bariatric patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  197 women ages 20 to 65 being assessed for bariatric surgery with a BMI greater than 30kg/m(2) were interviewed and completed the Eating and Exercise Examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of self-reported binge eating was 55% (n=109). The addition of the criterion 'more than a little loss of control/distress' reduced the rate to 23% (n=45), a minimum of six servings of food reduced the rate to 34% (n=67). The addition of a minimum frequency of twice per week for six months (DSM-VI) reduced the rate to 22% (n=43), or once per week for three months (DSM-5) reduced the rate to 53% (n=104).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More precise definitions and diagnostic criteria for binge eating may result in more consistent reports of prevalence levels of BED.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Sydney, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia. Electronic address: elisecoker@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Elise L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Coker
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Sydney, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia; Life Weight Loss Centre, Suite 2, Level 4, 171 Bigge Street, Liverpool, NSW 2170, Australia.
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: von Lojewski
authors.affiliation: The School of Rural Health, The University of Sydney, PO Box 1191, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia.
authors.forename: Georgina M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Luscombe
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Sydney, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia.
authors.forename: Suzanne F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Abraham
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D050110:Bariatric Surgery; D002032:Bulimia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D015995:Prevalence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D057566:Self Report; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Bariatric surgery; Binge eating; Criteria; Obese; Prevalence