19 Nov Binge Eating May Predispose to Diabetes

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Alison E. Field, ScD
Associate Professor of Pediatrics Boston Children’s Hospital
Division of Adolescent Medicine
Boston, MA  02115

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings of the study?


Answer: Girls who engage in frequent binge eating are much more likely than their peers with the same BMI to develop diabetes. The risk was greatest among girls with binge eating disorder.

MedicalResearch.com: Were any of the findings unexpected?

Answer: I was expecting an association, but the strength of the association was surprising. Girls with binge eating disorder were approximately 6 times more likely to develop diabetes.

MedicalResearch.com: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Answer: Clinicians should ask about binge eating. If patients report frequent binge eating clinicians should refer them to specialist who can help them reduce or cease binge eating, thus lowering their risk for developing diabetes.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Answer: More research is needed. We hope future studies will be able to examine additional confounders, such as overall diet quality and weight gain.

Citation:

Obesity Week 2013 Abstract

Field AE, et al “Independent of BMI, female binge eaters are more likely to develop diabetes” Obesity Week 2013; Abstract T-9-OR.

Last Updated on November 20, 2013 by Marie Benz MD FAAD