Prevalence of binge eating disorder in obese adult

Authors: P J Varnado Donald A Williamson B G Bentz D H Ryan S K Rhodes P M O’Neil S B Sebastian S E Barker

Publish Date: 2014/01/09

Volume: 2, Issue: 3, Pages: 117-123

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Abstract

Binge eating has been identified as a common problem in samples of obese persons Earlier studies found that approximately 30 of participants presenting for weigh loss treatment could be diagnosed with Binge Eating Disorder BED This study investigated the prevalence of BED using the Questionnaire on Eating and Weight Patterns QEWP and the Interview for the Diagnosis of Eating Disorders IDED in a sample of 468 obese adults seeking weight loss treatment at two research facilities The study found that only a smal percentage of the participants met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders 4th Revision DSMIV diagnostic criteria for BED using either the IDED 13 or QEWP 73 A larger percentage of the sample 107 based on the IDED and 205 based on the QEWP reported binge eating but did not endorse all criteria necessary to warrant a diagno sis of BED The primary finding of the study was that the prevalence of BED in treatmen seeking obese adults was much lower than was reported in previous studies Also there was significant discrepancy in prevalence rates of BED as defined by selfreport and interview assessment methods with the interview method yielding lower estimates of prevalence These findings suggest that the prevalence of BED may be lower than estimates of earlier reports We recommend that future studies of BED use reliable and valid interview methods and that this research focus on more diverse populations including men and a variety o racial and ethnic groups

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