Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Gender comparisons in psychological characteristics of obese, binge eaters

  • Brief Report
  • Published:
Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective: To investigate differences between male and female, obese binge eaters in levels of depression, anxiety and self-esteem. In addition, to make comparisons in these psychological characteristics, for both genders, between obese, binge eaters and obese nonbingers. Method: Participants consisted of 48 female (26 binge eaters and 22 nonbingers) and 13 male (4 binge eaters and 9 nonbingers) outpatients in a hospital weight-loss program. Participants completed the following: Questionnaire on Eating and Weight Patterns — Revised, Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory and the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory. Results: Females had a significantly higher level of depression (p<0.003) than males. No other significant gender differences were found. However significant differences between binge eaters and nonbingers were found, for both genders, in depression (p<0.0001) and anxiety (p<0.008) with the binge eaters having higher scores than the nonbingers, and in self-esteem (p<0.0001) with the binge eaters having lower scores than the nonbingers. Conclusion: Females have higher levels of depression compared to males, but no gender differences were found in anxiety or self-esteem. In both genders, binge eaters have higher levels of depression and anxiety and lower levels of self-esteem compared to nonbingers.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Striegel-Moore R.H., Silverstein L.R., Rodin J.: Toward an understanding of the risk factors for bulimia. Am. Psychol., 41, 246–263, 1986.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Spitzer R.L., Devlin M., Walsh B., Hasin D., Wing R., Marcus M., Stunkard A., Wadden T., Yanovski S., Agras W.S., Mitchell J., Nonas C.: Binge eating disorder: A multisite field trial of the diagnostic criteria. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 3, 191–203, 1992.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Spitzer R.L., Yanovski S., Wadden T., Wing R., Marcus M.D., Stunkard A., Devlin M., Mitchell J., Hasin D., Horne R.L.: Binge eating disorder: Its further validation in a multisite study. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 13, 137–153, 1993.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Tanofsky M.B., Wilfley D.E., Spurrell E.B., Welch R., Brownell K.D.: Comparison of men and women with binge eating disorder. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 21, 49–54, 1997.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Spurrell E.B., Wilfley D.E., Tanofsky M.B., Brownell K.D.: Age of onset for binge eating: Are there different pathways to binge eating? Int. J. Eat. Disord., 21, 55–65, 1997.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Musante G.J., Costanzo P.R., Friedman K.E.: The comorbidity of depression and eating dysregulation processes in a diet-seeking obese population: A matter of gender specificity. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 23, 65–76, 1998.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Sorbara M., Geliebter A.: Body image disturbance in obese outpatients before and after weight loss in relation to race, gender, binge eating, and age onset of obesity. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 31, 416–423, 2002.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Barry D.T., Grilo C.M., Masheb R.M.: Gender differences in patients with binge eating disorder. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 31, 63–71, 2002.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Linde J.A., Jeffery R.W., Levy R.L., Sherwood N.E., Utter J., Pronk N.P., Boyle R.G.: Binge eating disorder, weight control, self-efficacy and depression in overweight men and women. Int. J. Obesity, 28, 418–425, 2004.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Jirik-Babb P., Geliebter A.: comparison of psychological characteristics of binging and nonbinging obese, adult female outpatients. Eat. Weight Disord., 8, 173–177, 2003.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Beck A.T., Steer R.A.: Beck Depression Inventory. Psychological Corporation. New York, NY, Harcourt Brace Janovitch, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Beck A.T., Steer R.A.: Beck Anxiety Inventory Manual. Psychological Corporation. San Antonio, TX, Harcourt Brace and Co., 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Peterson C., Austin J.T.: Review of Coopersmith Self- Esteem Inventories. In: Mitchell J.V. Jr. (Ed.), The Ninth Mental Measurements Yearbook. Vol 1. Lincoln, NB, University of Nebraska Press, 1985, pp. 396–397.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Geliebter A., Hassid G., Hashim S.A.: Test meal intake in obese binge eaters in relation to mood and gender. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 29, 488–494, 2001.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Iona College, New Rochelle, NY, 10801, USA

    Pauline Jirik-Babb

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, USA

    Pauline Jirik-Babb

  3. New York Obesity Research Center, Departments of Medicine and Psychiatry, St. Luke’s/Roosevelt Hospital Center, Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, USA

    A. Geliebter

Authors
  1. Pauline Jirik-Babb
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Geliebter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pauline Jirik-Babb.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jirik-Babb, P., Geliebter, A. Gender comparisons in psychological characteristics of obese, binge eaters. Eat Weight Disord 10, e101–e104 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03327500

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03327500

Keywords

Search

Navigation