Hyper-palatable Food Consumption during Binge Eating Episodes: A Comparison of Intake during Binge Eating and Restricting

Abstract

Background: Binge eating is considered a maladaptive behavior associated with reduced quality of health and functioning. Affect-based models of binge eating propose that binge eating may serve to reduce negative affect. These processes may be facilitated by the consumption of hyper-palatable foods (HPF) during binge eating. However, intake from HPF during binge eating has not been empirically investigated using a standardized definition for HPF. The aim of the proposed study was to elucidate the degree to which HPF are consumed during binge episodes, and to test the difference in percentage of caloric intake from HPF between binge episodes and restricting episodes.Methods: The sample included adults (N=147, 83% women) diagnosed with sub-threshold (41%) or full-threshold (59%) bulimia nervosa (BN) who participated in a larger longitudinal study on eating disorders. At baseline, participants provided descriptions of foods consumed during binge and restricting episodes via the Eating Pathology Symptoms Inventory – Clinician Rated Version. Criteria from a quantitative definition of HPF were applied to foods consumed during binge and restricting episodes. A Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test was used to test the difference between percentage of energy intake from HPF during binge episodes relative to restricting episodes. Results: There was a significant difference between the median percentage of energy intake from HPF during binge episodes compared to restricting episodes (95% vs 61%; Z= -7.35, p<.0001), where binge episodes involved a greater percentage of energy intake from HPF. Conclusion: Results from the current study support the assumption of theoretical models of binge eating, indicating that HPF may be primarily consumed during binge episodes. Percentage of energy intake from HPF may be greater during binge episodes relative to restricting episodes among individuals with BN. Overall, the study suggests that HPF may be specifically targeted for consumption during binge episodes.