Binge eating and substance use among male and female adolescents

Objective: This study examines the relationship between binge eating and su bstance use behaviors and attitudes in adolescents and explores gender diff erences and mental health correlates. Method: The data are derived from the 1997 Ontario Student Drug Use Survey of public and Catholic school student s. A weighted sample of 1,031 girls and 888 boys was categorized as nonbing ers, past bingers, sind noncompensating or compensating binge eaters. Resul ts: Binge eaters, particularly those who compensated, were more likely to u se all types of substances, particularly cannabis and drugs other than toba cco and alcohol. Binge eating was associated with more problematic and heav ier substance use and with lowered self-esteem and more depression. Female bingers were more likely to report compensatory behaviors than male student s but gender differences in the relationship between binge eating and subst ance use were few. Discussion: Adolescent binge eaters who engage in compen satory behaviors may be an appropriate target group for preventive programs in high schools. (C) 1999 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.