Objective: The purpose of the study was to compare energy intake and food selection of laboratory binge eating episodes in obese women with and without binge eating disorder (BED).Method: Twenty women, 12 meeting BED criteria, and 8 BMI and age matched obese controls, engaged in a laboratory binge eating episode.Results: BED participants consumed significantly more total food in kilocalories than the non-BED obese group and more kilocalories of fat. However, there were no differences between the groups in the proportion of calories from any macronutrient. There was a nonsignificant trend for the BED group to consume more total grams of food. During the binge, the BED group consumed more dairy products. Conclusion:Results of the study confirmed that women with BED consumed significantly more total food in kilocalories than the non-BED obese women when they were allowed to have a binge eating episode in a laboratory setting.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there are differences in energy intake or energy expenditure that distinguish overweight/obese women with and without binge eating disorder (BED). Seventeen overweight/obese women with BED and 17 overweight/obese controls completed random 24-hour dietary recall interviews, and had total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) assessed by the doubly labeled water (DLW) technique with concurrent food log data collection. Participants received two baseline dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans and had basal metabolic rate (BMR) and thermic effect of food (TEF) measured using indirect calorimetry. Results indicated no between group differences in TDEE, BMR and TEF. As in our previous work, according to dietary recall data, the BED group had significantly higher caloric intake on days when they had binge eating episodes than on days when they did not (3255 vs. 2343 kilocalories (kcal)). There was no difference between BED non-binge day intake and control group intake (2233 vs. 2140 kcal). Similar results were found for food log data. Dietary recall data indicated a trend toward higher average daily intake in the BED group (2587 vs. 2140 kcal). Furthermore, when comparing TDEE to dietary recall and food log data, both groups displayed significant underreporting of caloric intake of similar magnitudes ranging 20–33%. Predicted energy requirements estimated via the Harris-Benedict equation underestimated measured TDEE by 23–24%. Our data suggest that increased energy intake reported by BED individuals is due to increased food consumption and not metabolic or underreporting differences.

Despite considerable comorbidity between mood disorders, binge eating disorder (BED), and obesity, the underlying mechanisms remain unresolved. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine models by which internalizing behaviors of depression and anxiety influence food intake in overweight/obese women. Thirty-two women (15 BED, 17 controls) participated in a laboratory eating-episode and completed questionnaires assessing symptoms of anxiety and depression. Path analysis was used to test mediation and moderation models to determine the mechanisms by which internalizing symptoms influenced kilocalorie (kcal) intake. The BED group endorsed significantly more symptoms of depression (10.1 versus 4.8, P = 0.005 ) and anxiety (8.5 versus 2.7, P = 0.003). Linear regression indicated that BED diagnosis and internalizing symptoms accounted for 30% of the variance in kcal intake. Results from path analysis suggested that BED mediates the influence of internalizing symptoms on total kcal intake (empirical P < 0.001 ). The associations between internalizing symptoms and food intake are best described as operating indirectly through a BED diagnosis. This suggests that symptoms of depression and anxiety influence whether one engages in binge eating, which influences kcal intake. Greater understanding of the mechanisms underlying the associations between mood, binge eating, and food intake will facilitate the development of more effective prevention and treatment strategies for both BED and obesity.

Purpose Research has demonstrated significant underreporting of food intake in obese individuals with and without binge eating disorder (BED). An improved understanding of the accuracy of self-reported food intake is central to diagnosis of eating disorders and monitoring response to treatment. The purpose was to: (1) confirm those with BED consume significantly more kilocalories (kcal) than overweight/obese controls when instructed to overeat in the laboratory and (2) compare dietary recall data with measured intake. Methods Fifteen women fulfilling BED criteria and 17 controls participated in an overeating episode and completed a 24-h dietary recall. Results BED participants consumed significantly more kilocalories according to both methodologies. The BED group self-reported 90% of the measured intake compared to 98% for the control group. Mean differences between the methods indicated that on average both groups underreported intake; however, the mean difference between methods was significantly greater in the BED group. Conclusions Findings confirm that those with BED consume significantly more than controls during a laboratory binge and controls tended to be more accurate in recalling their intake 24 h later.

The findings suggest only moderate agreement between the methods that were examined. Future investigations with larger sample sizes are needed to examine the relationship among these different methods of assessing food intake.