Binge eating research

Citation

(2012), "Binge eating research", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 42 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/nfs.2012.01742baa.010

Binge eating research

Article Type: Food facts From: Nutrition & Food Science, Volume 42, Issue 2

Binge eating is a disorder which affects both men and women, yet men remain underrepresented in research. A new study published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders has found that the medical impact of the disorder is just as damaging to men as it is to women, yet research has shown that the number of men seeking treatment is far lower than the estimated number of sufferers. “Binge eating is closely linked to obesity and excessive weight gain as well as the onset of hypertension, diabetes and psychiatric disorders such as depression,” said lead author Dr Ruth H. Striegel from Wesleyan University, Connecticut. “However, most of the evidence about the impact of binge eating is based on female samples, as the majority of studies into eating disorders recruit women”.

As so few studies have included men there is concern that men may be reluctant to seek treatment, or health care providers may be less likely detect a disorder in a male patient, because eating disorders are widely seen as female problems. Health services report that the number of men who receive treatment for binge eating is well below what would be expected based on estimates of prevalence.

Dr Striegel’s team used cross-sectional data from a sample of 21,743 men and 24,608 women who participated in a health risk self-assessment screening. The team analyzed any differences within the group for obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, depression and work productivity impairment. The team found that 1,630 men and 2,754 women were found to binge eat, defined as experiencing at last one binge episode in the past month. The impact on clinical and mental health as a result of binge eating was found to be comparable between men and women. This study also indicated that binge eating has an impact on work productively in both men and women, suggesting the need for employers to recognize binge eating as a damaging health risk behavior alongside stress or depression.

Striegel, R., Bedrosian, R., Wang, C. and Schwartz, S. (2011), “Why men should be included in research on binge eating: results from a comparison of psychosocial impairment in men and women”, International Journal of Eating Disorders, Wiley-Blackwell, September.