title: Comparing symptomatic and functional outcomes over 5 years in two nonclinical cohorts characterized by binge eating with and without objectively large episodes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to compare symptomatic and functional outcomes over 5 years in women with regular subjective (SBEs), objective (OBEs), and no regular binge eating episodes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were derived from two cohorts of 330 women with high levels of eating disorders symptoms followed over 5 years. Three groups were formed: (a) regular SBEs but no regular OBEs (N = 68), (b) regular OBEs with or without regular SBEs (N = 154), and (c) with no regular binge eating episodes (N = 108).
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, the groups did not differ significantly in restraint scores and quality of life. People in the OBE group scored higher than those in the SBE group in body mass index (BMI). Those who had no regular binge eating had lower global Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) and weight and shape concern scores than those with regular SBEs, and lower eating concern scores than either binge eating groups. Across the follow-up, there were no significant effects of being in either binge eating or the nonbinge eating group on the rates of change in BMI, general psychological distress, quality of life, or EDE-Q scores with the exception that OBE group had a significantly different rate of change in eating concern and psychological distress compared to the group without regular binge eating.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Individuals that report regular SBEs without regular OBEs represent a group with similar mental hardship and outcomes to those with regular OBEs. The findings support inclusion of regular SBEs in criteria for eating disorder diagnostic categories characterized by recurrent binge eating.
authors.affiliation: Eating Disorders Program (PROATA), Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil.|Ministry of Education (CAPES) Foundation, São Paulo, Brazil.|School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Marly A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Palavras
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia.|Centre for Health Research, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia.|School of Medicine, James Cook University, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Phillipa J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Hay
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Research, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia.|Centre for Big Data Research in Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Sanja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lujic
authors.affiliation: Eating Disorders Program (PROATA), Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Angélica M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Claudino
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056912:Binge-Eating Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: binge eating; diagnostic criteria; objective binge eating episodes; subjective binge eating episodes