THE EFFECTS OF A VERY-LOW-CALORIE DIET ON BINGE-EATING

Obese female subjects entering a combined Very Low Calorie Diet (VLCD) and behavioral weight loss program were identified at baseline as eit her binge eater or non-binge eater. The self-reported frequency of bin ge eating episodes was assessed during treatment and 3 months followin g treatment termination to determine the effects of the diet program o n binge eating. The results suggested that this dieting regime impacte d binge eating, with the most dramatic effect occurring once the VLCD ended and subjects were reintroduced to food. Post-VLCD, 30% of subjec ts identified at baseline as non-binge eaters reported binge eating ep isodes. At the end of the behavioral weight loss program, 62% of non-b inge eaters reported binge eating episodes. However, the effects on bi nge eating appeared to be limited primarily to the period of dieting, with binge eating episodes decreasing 3 months following the terminati on of treatment. The results are discussed in terms of the need for in creased attention in weight loss programs to the potential effects of dieting on binge eating.