The relationship between binge eating severity and body fat in nonpurge binge eating women

Abstract

The relationship between binge eating severity, measured by caloric intake, and amount of body fat, measured by percent of body fat and body mass index (BMI) was examined in nonpurge binge eating women. Although there was a low, but significant, relationship between binge eating severity and BMI, the relationship was not significant between binge eating severity and percent of body fat. Age and weight cycling were the best predictors for percent of body fat, while weight cycling alone was the best predictor for BMI. It cannot be assumed that caloric intake during binge eating is the central cause of obesity in nonpurge binge eating women.

Using a women’s health perspective to guide decisions made in quantitative research

“…Binge eating severity was measured by caloric intake calculated from food diaries. Findings from this study have been reported elsewhere ( Timmerman & Stevenson 1996).…”

“…That study was supported by a National Research Service Award grant from the National Institute for Nursing Research (NR06551), Bethesda, Maryland, USA. The results of the dissertation have been previously published ( Timmerman & Stevenson 1996).…”

Binge Eating Scale: Further Assessment of Validity and Reliability1

“…The sample's weight change was not statistically significant. Average total caloric intake and average total binge caloric intake were not significantly different during the first 2 weeks and the last 2 weeks of data collection (Timmerman & Stevenson, 1996).…”

“…Of the 68 women recruited through advertisements targeting women who found it difficult to control their eating behaviors, 12 dropped out for an attrition rate of 18% (n = 56). Individuals who dropped out of the study had lower educational levels (p < .001) and shorter binge histories (p < .05) than those completing the study (Timmerman & Stevenson, 1996). No significant differences were found between the two groups on marital status, race, employment status, income, or reported frequency of binge episodes.…”

“…The average score on the BES was 22.3 (SD = 6.0), with scores ranging from 8 to 34. Descriptive statistics describing the binge eating severity for this sample were published previously (Timmerman & Stevenson, 1996). None of the measures of subjective binge severity were significantly correlated with the measures of objective binge severity.…”