Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Comparison of obese men and women with binge eating disorder seeking weight management

  • Brief Report
  • Published:
Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study examined whether obese males with binge eating disorder (BED) seeking weight loss treatment differed significantly from obese females with BED seeking weight loss treatment in developmental variables, weight loss history, current and lifetime prevalence of psychiatric disorders, and metabolic abnormalities. METHODS: Psychiatric (using the Structural Clinical Interview for DSM-IV), medical, and laboratory assessments of 44 obese males with BED were compared with assessments from 44 age- and race-matched obese females with BED seeking weight loss treatment. RESULTS: High rates of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and metabolic syndrome were observed in the population as a whole. Obese males with BED had attempted significantly fewer diets, medications and supplements for weight loss before seeking weight loss treatment. The two genders did not differ significantly in any other of the examined variables. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that while obese men and women with BED who present for weight management are very similar, males had fewer previous attempts at weight loss, possibly related to their less pronounced body dissatisfaction or fewer help-seeking behaviors as compared to females. Our results also support findings of substantial comorbidity among obesity, BED, mood and anxiety disorders, and metabolic syndrome in weight loss seeking populations, in men as well as women.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Soundy T.J., Lucas A.R., Suman V.J., Melton L.J., 3rd.: Bulimia nervosa in Rochester, Minnesota from 1980 to 1990. Psychol. Med., 25, 1065–1071, 1995.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Fontaine K.R., Barofsky I., Andersen R.E., Bartlett S.J., Wiersema L., Cheskin L.J., et al.: Impact of weight loss on health-related quality of life. Qual. Life Res., 8, 275–277, 1999.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Lucas A.R., Beard C.M., O’Fallon W.M., Kurland L.T.: 50-year trends in the incidence of anorexia nervosa in Rochester, Minn.: a population-based study. Am. J. Psychiatry, 148, 917–922, 1991.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Striegel-Moore R.H., Franko D.L.: Epidemiology of binge eating disorder. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 34 (Suppl.): S19–S29, 2003.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Costanzo P.R., Musante G.J., Friedman K.E., Kern L.S., Tomlinson K.: The gender specificity of emotional, situational, and behavioral indicators of binge eating in a diet-seeking obese population. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 26, 205–210, 1999.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Ross H.E., Ivis F.: Binge eating and substance use among male and female adolescents. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 26, 245–260, 1999.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. DiGioacchino R.F., Sargent R.G., Sharpe P.A., Miller P.: Gender differences among those exhibiting characteristics of binge eating disorder. Eat. Weight Disord., 4, 76–80, 1999.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Yanovski S.Z., Nelson J.E., Dubbert B.K., Spitzer R.L.: Association of binge eating disorder and psychiatric comorbidity in obese subjects. Am. J. Psychiatry, 150, 472–479, 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Mazzeo S.E., Saunders R., Mitchell K.S.: Gender and binge eating among bariatric surgery candidates. Eat. Behav. 7, 47–52, 2006.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Jirik-Babb P., Norring C.: Gender comparisons in psychological characteristics of obese, binge eaters. Eat. Weight Disord., 10: e101–e104, 2005.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Tanofsky M.B., Wilfley D.E., Spurrell E.B., Welch R., Brownell K.D.: Comparison of men and women with binge eating disorder. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 21, 49–54, 1997.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Barry D.T., Grilo C.M., Masheb R.M.: Gender differences in patients with binge eating disorder. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 31, 63–70, 2002.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Jambekar S.A., Masheb R.M., Grilo C.M.: Gender differences in shame in patients with binge-eating disorder. Obes. Res., 11, 571–577, 2003.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Schneider J.A., Agras W.S.: Bulimia in males: a matched comparison with females. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 6, 235–242, 1987.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Malhotra S., King K.H., Welge J.A., Brusman-Lovins L., McElroy S.L.: Venlafaxine treatment of binge-eating disorder associated with obesity: a series of 35 patients. J. Clin. Psychiatry, 63, 802–806, 2002.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. First M.B., Spitzer R.L., Gibbon M., et al.: Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I disorders (SCID). New York, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Biometric Research, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Hirschfeld R.M., Williams J.B., Spitzer R.L., Calabrese J.R., Flynn L., Keck P.E., Jr., et al.: Development and validation of a screening instrument for bipolar spectrum disorder: the Mood Disorder Questionnaire. Am. J. Psychiatry, 157, 1873–1875, 2000.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Beck A.T., Ward C.H., Mendelson M., Mock J., Erbaugh J.: An inventory for measuring depression. Arch. Gen. Psychiatry, 4: 561–571, 1961.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Clearfield M.B.: The national cholesterol education program adult treatment panel ill guidelines. J. Am. Osteopath. Assoc., 103 (Suppl. 1): S1–S5, 2003.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Guy W.: ECDEU Assessment Manual for Psychopharmacology, US Dept. Health, Education and Welfare publication (ADM). Rockville, Md, National Institute of Mental Health, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Marchesini G., Melchionda N., Apolone G., Cuzzolaro M., Mannucci E., Corica F., et al.: The metabolic syndrome in treatment-seeking obese persons. Metabolism, 53, 435–440, 2004.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Graffagnino C.L., Falko J.M., La Londe M., Schaumburg J., Hyek M.F., Shaffer L.E., et al.: Effect of a community-based weight management program on weight loss and cardiovascular disease risk factors. Obesity (Silver Spring), 14, 280–288, 2006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Bautista-Castano I., Molina-Cabrillana J., Montoya-Alonso J.A., Serra-Majem L.: Variables predictive of adherence to diet and physical activity recommendations in the treatment of obesity and overweight, in a group of Spanish subjects. Int. J. Obes. Relat. Metab. Disord., 28, 697–705, 2004.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. French S.A., Jeffery R.W., Sherwood N.E., Neumark-Sztainer D.: Prevalence and correlates of binge eating in a nonclinical sample of women enrolled in a weight gain prevention program. Int. J. Obes. Relat. Metab. Disord., 23, 576–585, 1999.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Geist R., Heinmaa M., Katzman D., Stephens D.: A comparison of male and female adolescents referred to an eating disorder program. Can. J. Psychiatry, 44, 374–378, 1999.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Blokstra A., Burns C.M., Seidell J.C.: Perception of weight status and dieting behaviour in Dutch men and women. Int. J. Obes. Relat. Metab. Disord., 23, 7–17, 1999.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Fontaine K.R.: Predicting treatment seeking for overweight. J. Nerv. Ment. Dis., 187, 248–250, 1999.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Jeffery R.W., Adlis S.A., Forster J.L.: Prevalence of dieting among working men and women: the healthy worker project. Health Psychol., 10, 274–281, 1991.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Wang P.S., Demler O., Olfson M., Pincus H.A., Wells K.B., Kessler R.C.: Changing profiles of service sectors used for mental health care in the United States. Am. J. Psychiatry, 163, 1187–1198, 2006.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Moller-Leimkuhler A.M.: Barriers to help-seeking by men: a review of sociocultural and clinical literature with particular reference to depression. J. Affect. Disord., 71, 1–9, 2002.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Galdas P.M., Cheater F., Marshall P.: Men and health help-seeking behaviour: literature review. J. Adv. Nurs., 49, 616–623, 2005.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Jorm A.F., Kelly C.M., Wright A., Parslow R.A., Harris M.G., McGorry P.D.: Belief in dealing with depression alone: Results from community surveys of adolescents and adults. J. Affect. Disord., 96, 59–65, 2006.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Fothergill K.E., Ensminger M.E.: Childhood and adolescent antecedents of drug and alcohol problems: A longitudinal study. Drug Alcohol Depend., 82: 61–76, 2006.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Shakeshaft A.P., Bowman J.A., Sanson-Fisher R.W.: Community-based drug and alcohol counselling: who attends and why? Drug Alcohol Rev., 21, 153–162, 2002.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Simon G.E., Von Korff M., Saunders K., Miglioretti D.L., Crane P.K., van Belle G., et al.: Association between obesity and psychiatric disorders in the US adult population. Arch. Gen. Psychiatry, 63, 824–830, 2006.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Spencer E.A., Appleby P.N., Davey G.K., Key T.J.: Validity of self-reported height and weight in 4808 EPIC-Oxford participants. Public Health Nutr., 5, 561–565, 2002.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Masheb R.M., Grilo C.M.: Accuracy of self-reported weight in patients with binge eating disorder. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 29, 29–36, 2001.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Braun D.L., Sunday S.R., Huang A., Halmi K.A.: More males seek treatment for eating disorders. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 25, 415–424, 1999.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Crisp A.H., Burns T.: Primary anorexia nervosa in the male and female: A comparison of clinical features and prognosis. New York, NY, Brunner/Mazel, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Pope H.G., Hudson J.I., Johnas J.M.: Bulimia in men: A series of fifteen cases. J. Nerv. Mental Dis., 174, 117–119, 1986.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Woodside D.B., Garfinkel P.E., Lin E., Goering P., Kaplan A.S., Goldbloom D.S., et al.: Comparisons of men with full or partial eating disorders, men without eating disorders, and women with eating disorders in the community. Am. J. Psychiatry, 158, 570–574, 2001.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Woodside D.B., Bulik C.M., Thornton L., Klump K.L., Tozzi F., Fichter M.M., et al.: Personality in men with eating disorders. J. Psychosom. Res., 57, 273–278, 2004.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychopharmacology Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 231 Albert Sabin Way, ML 559, Cincinnati, OH, 45267-0559, USA

    Anna I. Guerdjikova PhD, S. L. McElroy, R. Kotwal & P. E. Keck

Authors
  1. Anna I. Guerdjikova PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. L. McElroy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. R. Kotwal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. P. E. Keck
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anna I. Guerdjikova PhD.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Guerdjikova, A.I., McElroy, S.L., Kotwal, R. et al. Comparison of obese men and women with binge eating disorder seeking weight management. Eat Weight Disord 12, e19–e23 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03327777

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03327777

Key words

Search

Navigation