Hyper‐palatable food consumption during binge‐eating episodes: A comparison of intake during binge eating and restricting

Abstract

Objective The study aim was to elucidate the degree to which hyper‐palatable foods (HPF) are consumed during binge episodes compared to restricting episodes, and to test the association between HPF intake during each episode and respective episode frequency. Method This study was a secondary analysis of data from a larger study on eating disorders. The present sample included adults (N = 147, 83% women) diagnosed with sub‐threshold (41%) or full‐threshold (59%) bulimia nervosa (BN). Foods consumed during binge and restricting episodes were assessed using the Eating Pathology Symptoms Inventory–Clinician Rated Version. A standardized definition of HPF developed previously was applied to foods consumed during binge and restricting episodes. A Wilcoxon matched‐pairs signed‐rank test was used to test the difference between total caloric intake from HPF (KcalHPF) and percentage of caloric intake from HPF (PercHPF) during binge episodes relative to restricting episodes. Four linear regression models tested HPF intake (KcalHPF and PercHPF) during both episode types (binge and restricting) as predictors of respective episode frequency. Results There was a significant difference between median KcalHPF (1846.6 vs. 279.6; Z = −13.38, p < .001) and PercHPF during binge compared to restricting episodes (95% vs. 61%; Z = −7.35, p < .001). Regression analyses demonstrated that KcalHPF during binge episodes was significantly associated with binge episode frequency (B = 0.002; p < .001), but not PercHPF (p = .287). Discussion Results suggest that HPF may be primarily consumed during binge episodes among individuals with BN, and may be associated with greater binge‐eating frequency. Public Significance Findings from the current study support an underlying assumption of theoretical models of binge eating, suggesting that highly rewarding, hyper‐palatable foods (HPF), may constitute the vast majority of energy intake during binge‐eating episodes. Additionally, a substantial amount of energy intake from HPF may occur during restricting episodes among people with bulimia nervosa. Greater HPF intake during binge eating may also be associated with binge‐eating severity.

Measuring Motivations to Eat Palatable Foods: Adaptation and Psychometric Properties of the Italian Version of the Palatable Eating Motives Scale (PEMS-IT)

“…Hyper-processed palatable foods constitute the vast majority of energy intake during binge-eating episodes, and higher scores of hyper-processed food consumption are strongly correlated with increased chances of developing BEDs [ 22 ]. As for BEDs, food addiction is linked to greater reward sensitivity, greater food cravings, and hyper-responsiveness to HPFs [ 23 , 24 , 25 ].…”

Food Consumption during Binge Eating Episodes in Binge Eating Spectrum Conditions from a Representative Sample of a Brazilian Metropolitan City

“…However, the food recall is the most feasible self-report method to assess dietary intake [ 65 ]. Furthermore, it has been frequently used to assess food consumption in the ED literature [ 37 , 38 ]. Third, the great variability in energy intake, foods, and nutrients due to the use of only one food recall associated with the small number of cases may have underpowered the comparisons of food intake.…”

“…This software used the list of foods from the 2008–2009 Brazilian Household Budget Survey [ 36 ], and it was adapted for the assessment of food consumption during the episodes. These strategies have been used to assess food consumption during binge eating episodes in ED research [ 37 , 38 ].…”

US tobacco companies selectively disseminated hyper‐palatable foods into the US food system: Empirical evidence and current implications

“…raw fruit) [20] and is distinct from constructs such as energy density and ultra‐processed foods [20, 34]. Furthermore, evidence indicates HPF may be the target of clinically defined binge‐eating episodes [35] and that highly processed HPF may be the target of food addiction [36], supporting the premise that HPF may have strong addictive properties.…”