OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between obesity/overweight and binge eating episodes (BEEs) in a large nonclinical population. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Consumers at shopping centers in five Brazilian cities (N = 2858) who participated in an overweight prevention program were interviewed and had weight and height measured to calculate BMI. RESULTS: Prevalence of overweight (BMI = 25 to 29.9 kg/m2) was 46.6% for men and 36.6% for women. Obesity (BMI > or = 30 kg/m2) was about two-thirds of the prevalence of overweight. BEEs (subjects who binged one or more times per week over the last 3 months) in normal-weight individuals was 1.4% for men and 3.9% for women, whereas in overweight/obese, these prevalences were 6.5% and 5.5%, respectively (p < 0.01). After adjustment for age, socioeconomic variables, and childhood obesity, those who reported BEEs had an odds ratio of being overweight/obese of 3.31 (95% confidence interval: 1.11 to 9.85) for men and 1.73 (95% confidence interval: 1.05 to 2.84) for women. DISCUSSION: These findings indicate a strong association between episodes of binge eating and overweight/obesity, mainly among men.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between obesity/overweight and binge eating episodes (BEEs) in a large nonclinical population. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Consumers at shopping centers in five Brazilian cities (N = 2858) who participated in an overweight prevention program were interviewed and had weight and height measured to calculate BMI. RESULTS: Prevalence of overweight (BMI = 25 to 29.9 kg/m2) was 46.6% for men and 36.6% for women. Obesity (BMI > or = 30 kg/m2) was about two-thirds of the prevalence of overweight. BEEs (subjects who binged one or more times per week over the last 3 months) in normal-weight individuals was 1.4% for men and 3.9% for women, whereas in overweight/obese, these prevalences were 6.5% and 5.5%, respectively (p < 0.01). After adjustment for age, socioeconomic variables, and childhood obesity, those who reported BEEs had an odds ratio of being overweight/obese of 3.31 (95% confidence interval: 1.11 to 9.85) for men and 1.73 (95% confidence interval: 1.05 to 2.84) for women. DISCUSSION: These findings indicate a strong association between episodes of binge eating and overweight/obesity, mainly among men.