Binge eating and BIS/BAS activity in obese patients with intense food craving who attend weight control programs

Background and aims: Obesity is largely due to abnormal eating habits. The present study analyzed the prevalence of binge eating in obese patients with intense food craving (FC) who were attending weight control programs, and assessed whether binge eating and PC were associated with BIS/BAS sensitivity. Methods: Participants were 102 consecutive Italian overweight/obese patients (BMI >= 25 kg/m(2)). The patients were administered the State and Trait Food Cravings Questionnaire, trait version (FCQ-T), the BIS/BAS (behavioral inhibition/behavioral approach systems) Scale, and the Binge Eating Scale (BES). Results: 57.8% of the patients reported intense FC. Patients with intense PC (compared to patients with mild FC) had higher BES scores (19.56+/-7.52 vs 7.65+/-4.83; t(100)=9.10; p<0.001), and higher BIS sensitivity (22.63+/-2.76 vs 21.26+/-2.61; t(100)=2.34; p<0.05). BES scores were associated with all the dimensions of the FCQ-T, with r values between 0.50 and 0.78. Furthermore, the BES was significantly associated with higher BIS activity (r=0.28; p<0.01). Conclusions: Our results confirm that obesity is strictly linked to food craving and binge eating, and that intense food craving may be seen as a powerful precursor of binge eating. Obesity and Metabolism 2011; 7: e21-e27.