Ovarian Hormones and Binge Eating in Adulthood: Summary of Findings and Implications for Individual Differences in Risk in Women

Abstract

Ovarian hormone influences on general food intake have been studied in animals for 60+ years. Yet, extensions of these data to key eating disorder symptoms in humans (e.g., binge eating [BE]) have only recently occurred. In this article, we summarize findings from studies examining the effects of ovarian hormones on BE. Findings suggest ovarian hormones contribute to BE in animals and humans, although studies are few in number and effects are not present in all women or all animals exposed to high-risk hormonal milieus. Differences in susceptibility may be due to gene × hormone interactions that can explain why some, but not all, women develop BE in the presence of risky hormonal environments.

Partnership with the University of São Paulo Panel of Twins: A Four-City Tour and More / Twin Research Reviews: Twin Research on Binge Eating; Twins’ Physical Outcomes Linked to Different Diets; Working Conditions and Sickness Absence in Swedish Twins; Facial Morphology Differences in Monozygotic Twins / Human Interest and Importance: Michigan Family Forced to Adopt Their Own Twins; Ethics of Hiring a Surrogate to Bear Twins; Twin Survivors of the Israel-Hamas War; Twin Pregnancy with Double Uterus; Three

“…Klump et al (2023) introduce this review article with reference to observed ovarian horomonal contributions to binge eating (BE) in humans and nonhumans. In a section titled ‘Gene × Hormone Interactions’, the investigators suggest ways in which twin studies may be utilized to inform research on this topic.…”