Analysis of macronutrient composition of binge-eating episodes in a non-clinical normal weight sample
- 15.03.2021
- English Articles
- Romina Müller
- Friederike Barthels
- Frank Meyer
- Reinhard Pietrowsky
Peer-Review-Verfahren / Manuscript (original contribution) received: May 12, 2020 / Revision accepted: September 14, 2020
Introduction
Atypical eating habits, especially stress-induced eating, has become more common even in the normal population. Lifetime prevalence rates of people suffering from binge eating disorder (BED) have been, according to DSM-5 criteria, proposed to rise enormously (2.9% in women; 3.0% in men; [1). Binge eating is primarily characterized by frequent binge eating episodes defined as “(…) eating, in a discrete period of time, an amount of food that is definitely larger than what most people would eat during a similar period of time under similar circumstances (…)” as well as “(…) a sense of lack of control over eating during the episode” [2]. Although atypical eating behavior is the key symptom of the disorder, there are only a few studies concerning quality, quantity and especially the macronutrient composition of binge episodes.
In contrast to bulimia nervosa, there are only a few and mainly laboratory studies focusing on food consumption during a binge episode in BED. Fitzgibbon and Blackman [3] compared the composition of binges of binge eaters with those of bulimic individuals. They found a higher consumption of snacks and desserts in subjects with BED as well as a higher intake of fat, less consumption of proteins and a comparable intake of carbohydrates.
Abstract
Purpose: In a sample of normal weight persons with binge eating behavior this study assessed the macronutrient composition of binges and additionally investigated food intake and psychopathological aspects compared to a sample of non-bingeing normal weight controls.
Method: 17 participants with a subclinical binge eating disorder (BED; binge group, BG), and 19 non-bingeing participants (control group, CG) recorded their eating behavior for seven days, including any binge eating episodes. The BG additionally recorded their binge episodes for subsequently another two months.
Results: Both groups consumed an equal amount of energy per day (2220 vs. 2230 kcal). Overall eating behavior of BG contained equal amounts of fat (35% vs. 34%), carbohydrates (48% vs. 48%) and proteins (16% vs. 17%) when compared to the CG. Macronutrient composition of binge episodes was characterized by a high intake of fat (45%) and carbohydrates (44%) and less proteins (10%). Participants of the BG had a significantly higher pathological eating behavior, were more depressed and felt less vital than the controls.
Conclusions: Overall, macronutrient composition of binges in normal weight subjects with subclinical BED is in line with the macronutrient composition of binges displayed by bulimic and overweight BED individuals. Therefore, the binge-associated clinical symptoms in these patient groups seem to be caused by factors other than binge composition, which might be psychological determinants as well as differences in metabolism and hormone levels.
Keywords: binge eating disorder, macronutrients, normal weight, binge quality, eating disorder
