Epidemiology of binge eating

Abstract

This chapter reviews information on the epidemiology of binge eating and disorders defined by the presence of recurrent binge-eating episodes, bulimia nervosa (BN), and binge-eating disorder (BED). Prevalence estimates indicate that binge eating affects 4.9% of females and 4% of males over their lifetimes. BN occurs in about 1.9% of females and 0.6% of males over their lifetimes, and 1.5% of females and 0.1% of males currently have BN. BED is more common than BN: about 2.8% of females and 1% of males will be diagnosed with BED in their lifetimes, and 2.3% of females and 0.3% of males currently have BED. Both BN and BED are more common in women than men, and binge eating and BN are more common in young adulthood compared to middle and late adulthood. Mixed findings exist for gender differences in prevalence of any binge eating, and the prevalence of BED appears similar throughout young and middle adulthood. Prevalence estimates for binge eating are higher among racial/ethnic minorities and prevalence estimates for BN are higher among Latinos and African-Americans compared to non-Latino White Americans. In contrast, prevalence estimates for BED are largely similar among racial/ethnic minorities and non-Latino White Americans. Incidence rates for binge eating and BED have not been examined for changes over time. For BN, studies support a significant increase in incidence during the latter half of the twentieth century, with rates either remaining stable or decreasing during the transition to the twenty-first century. The chapter ends with a discussion of factors relevant to interpreting the epidemiological data.