A descriptive analysis of factors contributing to binge eating

This study was designed to examine temporally proximal and remote anteceden ts as well as immediate and delayed consequences of binge eating behavior. Participants included 16 undergraduate females who reported engaging in bin ge eating at least two times per week and experiencing a sense of lack of c ontrol during binge eating episodes on the Questionnaire of Eating and Weig ht Patterns. Results indicated that the most frequent proximal antecedents to binge eating were negative emotions such as feeling depressed, angry, em pty, hopeless, worried, or dissatisfied. The most frequent consequences of binge eating included relief from negative feelings and thoughts and decrea se in hunger or craving. The results of this study suggest that the functio n of binge eating can be identified through assessment of antecedents and c onsequences with real time recording and retrospective reports. Treatment i mplications are discussed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserv ed.