Binge eating in overweight women.

Data on the prevalence and characteristics of binge eating in a series of 64 obese women participating in a controlled weight-reduction program are presented. Twenty-two (34.4%) reported recurrent binge eating episodes defined as overeating plus loss of control as assessed by patients' self-report and confirmed by a clinical interview. Six of those indicated that they engaged in either self-induced vomiting or laxative use to control their weight, but only two met full criteria for current bulimia nervosa according to DSM-III-R. A detailed description of the binge eating behavior revealed similarities to the eating pattern described in patients with bulimia nervosa: obese binge eaters tended to overeat in the evening, when they were alone and at home. Compared with their non-binge eating counterparts, binge eaters were significantly younger when they presented for treatment. The prevalence of childhood obesity was higher, and they were significantly younger when they first started on a diet than the non-binge eaters. Binge eaters reported more psychological problems such as body image distortion, and there was a slight tendency for binge eaters to exhibit more depressive symptomatology at baseline. No association between binge eating and weight at baseline, or weight loss during therapy or at follow-up could be found. Fluvoxamine (100 mg) did not seem to be of specific benefit in this subgroup of the obese with regard to weight loss.