Obese women with binge-eating disorder eat significantly more food during binge meals and regular meals than non-binge eaters of the same body weight, according to a report in the journal Obesity Research.

Researchers conducted a study of 42 women who were categorized into five groups by their body mass index and binge-eating disorder diagnosis. The women were given two laboratory-test meals on non-consecutive days. They were told to binge during one meal and eat normally during the other.

The most obese women with binge-eating disorder also ate significantly more than less obese women with binge-eating disorder, but only when they were told to binge.

Women with binge-eating disorder reported significantly higher feelings of fullness after the binge meal than after the normal meal, reported the researchers. The women who did not have binge-eating disorder reported similar satiety ratings after both meals.

Regardless of instructions and diagnosis, obese women derived a significantly higher percentage of their total calories from fat than the control group.

Other sources: Obesity Research