Relationship between dietary restraint, binge eating, and leptin in obese women

OBJECTIVE: To describe some biological, behavioural and psychological correlates of the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire, and to determine the relationship between dietary restraint, binge eating, and leptin among obese women seeking treatment. DESIGN: Consecutive series of obese women enrolled in a clinical program for weight reduction treatment. SUBJECTS: Forty-two obese women. Eight participants met the criteria for 'severe binge eating' as measured by the Binge Eating Scale. MEASUREMENTS: Energy intake, resting energy expenditure, body composition, leptin, restraint, disinhibition, hunger and binge eating were assessed before starting the treatment. RESULTS: In this sample both higher disinhibition and hunger scores were associated with greater binge eating severity. Obese women with severe binge eating had lower restraint, higher disinhibition and hunger scores, as well as higher daily fat intake, when compared with obese non-binge-eaters. Interestingly, restraint scores were negatively associated with leptin levels among subjects with severe binge eating. CONCLUSION: In obese women with severe binge eating, the negative relationship between dietary restraint and serum leptin concentrations seems mediated by a greater fat intake. These findings need to be verified in further human studies.