Objective: Prevalence of binge eating has been shown to be as common in men as in women, yet few studies have included men. Men are especially underrepresented in treatment studies, raising the question of whether men who binge eat experience less distress or impairment than women. This study compared demographic and clinical correlates of binge eating in a large employee sample of men and women.Method: Cross-sectional data from 21,743 men and 24,608 women who participated in a health risk self assessment screening were used. Group differences in obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, Type 2 diabetes, depression, stress, sleep, sick days, work impairment, and nonwork activity impairment were tested using chi-square tests (categorical variables) and independent sample t-tests (continuous variables).Results: Effect size estimates indicate that men (n 5 1,630) and women (n 5 2,754) who binge eat experience comparable levels of clinical impairment. They also report substantially greater impairment when compared with men and women who do not binge eat.Discussion: The underrepresentation of men in treatment-seeking samples does not appear to reflect lower levels of impairment in men versus women. Efforts are needed to raise awareness of the clinical significance of binge eating in men so that this group can receive appropriate screening and treatment services. V V C 2011 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

No abstract

Objective: To examine productivity impairment in individuals with obesity and/or binge eating.Method: Based on current weight and eating behavior, 117,272 employees who had completed a health risk appraisal and psychosocial functioning questionnaire were classified into one of four groups. Gender-stratified analyses compared groups on four measures: absenteeism, presenteeism, total work productivity impairment, and (non-work) activity impairment.Results: Overall group differences were statistically significant for all measures with lowest impairment in non-obese men and women without binge eating (n 5 34,090, n 5 39,198), higher levels in individuals without binge eating (n 5 15,570, n 5 16,625), yet higher levels in non-obese men and women with binge eating (n 5 1,381, n 5 2,674), and highest levels in obese men and women with binge eating (Group 4, n 5 2,739, n 5 4,176).Discussion: Health initiatives for obese employees should include screening and interventions for employees with binge eating. V V C 2012 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Researchers have proposed and tested many theories to understand gender differences in stress experiences. However, little research has identified differences between subgroups of women in terms of stress sources, symptoms, coping strategies and help‐seeking behaviour. The purpose of this study was to examine these characteristics of women seeking help for stress management through a digital health coaching programme. We examined cross‐sectional data from 63,690 women between the ages of 18 and 59 years who participated in the stress management programme from 2001 to 2008. We divided the sample into age groups to identify developmental patterns in their stress characteristics. Work, time demands and psychological reactions to stress were consistent concerns, whereas between‐group comparisons indicated diverse stress characteristics by age group. Importantly, women at all ages reported being uncomfortable asking for help. The findings suggest that technology‐based solutions like digital health coaching may reach women who may not otherwise seek or receive help for stress management. The results also emphasize the importance of considering the unique characteristics of women when providing them stress management interventions. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Efforts to reduce productivity impairment need to target binge eating as a modifiable risk behavior.

Digital coaching programs may be a viable treatment option, particularly for individuals with infrequent binge eating who otherwise might not seek or receive treatment.

No abstract

No abstract