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Binge eating in children and adolescents
Author(s) -
Marcus Marsha D.,
Kalarchian Melissa A.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/eat.10205
Subject(s) - dieting , binge eating , psychology , binge eating disorder , mood , eating disorders , bulimia nervosa , developmental psychology , disordered eating , clinical psychology , obesity , weight loss , medicine
Objective To establish what is known about binge eating in children and adolescents and to identify unresolved questions. Method We reviewed relevant studies to highlight and synthesize salient research findings. Discussion Available research has suggested that loss of control over eating may be more important than consumption of an objectively large amount of food in the assessment of binge eating in children. In addition, dieting may not be associated consistently with binge eating in children. Behavioral correlates of binges may include eating in the absence of hunger, eating in response to strong emotions or external cues, and eating in secret. On the basis of available research, provisional research criteria for binge eating disorder (BED) in children are suggested to stimulate further study of pediatric samples. We emphasize the need for prospective studies on the relationships among aberrant eating, weight and mood, and the inclusion of boys and girls of different ethnicities. © 2003 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 34: S47–S57, 2003.