Overweight, obesity, and binge eating in a non-clinical sample of five Brazilian cities

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/m(2)) was 46.6% for men and 36.6% for women. Obesity (BMI greater than or equal to 30 kg/m(2)) 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.