A comparison of energy intake and food selection during laboratory binge eating episodes in obese women with and without a binge eating disorder diagnosis

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to compare energy intake and food selection of laboratory binge eating episodes in obese women with and without binge eating disorder (BED). METHOD: Twenty women, 12 meeting BED criteria, and 8 BMI and age matched obese controls, engaged in a laboratory binge eating episode. RESULTS: BED participants consumed significantly more total food in kilocalories than the non-BED obese group and more kilocalories of fat. However, there were no differences between the groups in the proportion of calories from any macronutrient. There was a nonsignificant trend for the BED group to consume more total grams of food. During the binge, the BED group consumed more dairy products. CONCLUSION: Results of the study confirmed that women with BED consumed significantly more total food in kilocalories than the non-BED obese women when they were allowed to have a binge eating episode in a laboratory setting.