Relationship between dietary restraint, binge eating, and leptin in obese women

OBJECTIVE: To describe some biological, behavioural and psychological corre lates of the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire, and to determine the relati onship between dietary restraint, binge eating, and leptin among obese wome n seeking treatment. DESIGN: Consecutive series of obese women enrolled in a clinical program fo r weight reduction treatment. SUBJECTS: Forty-two obese women. Eight participants met the criteria for 's evere binge eating' as measured by the Binge Eating Scale. MEASUREMENTS: Energy intake, resting energy expenditure, body composition, leptin, restraint, disinhibition, hunger and binge eating were assessed bef ore starting the treatment. RESULTS: In this sample both higher disinhibition and hunger scores were as sociated with greater binge eating severity. Obese women with severe binge eating had lower restraint, higher disinhibition and hunger scores, as well as higher daily fat intake, when compared with obese non-binge-eaters. Int erestingly, restraint scores were negatively associated with leptin levels among subjects with severe binge eating. CONCLUSION: In obese women with severe binge eating, the negative relations hip between dietary restraint and serum leptin concentrations seems mediate d by a greater fat intake. These findings need to be verified in further hu man studies.