Abstract
Background:
Binge eating predisposes children to excessive weight gain. However, it is unknown if pediatric binge eating predicts other obesity-associated adverse health outcomes.
Objective:
The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between binge eating and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in children.
Method:
Children aged 5–12 years at high risk for adult obesity, either because they were overweight/obese when first examined or because their parents were overweight/obese, were recruited from Washington, DC and its suburbs. Children completed a questionnaire assessment of binge eating at baseline and underwent measurements of MetS components at baseline and at a follow-up visit approximately 5 years later. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to measure the visceral adipose tissue (VAT) in a subset.
Results:
In all, 180 children were studied between July 1996 and August 2010. Baseline self-reported binge eating presence was associated with a 5.33 greater odds of having MetS at follow-up (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.47, 19.27, P=0.01). The association between binge eating and body mass index (BMI) only partially explained changes in MetS components: baseline binge eating predicted higher follow-up triglycerides, even after accounting for baseline triglycerides, baseline BMI, BMI change, sex, race, baseline age and time in study (P=0.05). Also, adjusting for baseline VAT and demographics, baseline binge eating predicted greater follow-up L2−3 VAT (P=0.01).
Discussion:
Children's reports of binge eating predicted development of MetS, worsening triglycerides and increased VAT. The excessive weight gain associated with children's binge eating partly explained its adverse metabolic health outcomes. Reported binge eating may represent an early behavioral marker upon which to focus interventions for obesity and MetS.
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Acknowledgements
JAY is a Commissioned Officer in the US Public Health Service, DHHS.
The authors’ responsibilities were as follows: MTK, LBS, SZY and JAY designed the study; MTK, LBS, EAS, RM, NS, DD, SZY, VSH and JAY analyzed and interpreted the data and drafted of the manuscript. All authors contributed to the collection and assembly of data, provided critical revision of the article for content and approved the final version of the manuscript. We thank the volunteers who participated for their help in completing these studies. The funding organization played no role in design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis and interpretation of the data; nor preparation or review of the manuscript. None of the authors declare any conflict of interest. This work was supported by National Research Service Award 1F32HD056762 from the NICHD (to LBS) and Intramural Research Program Grant 1ZIAHD000641 from the NICHD with supplemental funding from NIMHD (to JAY). ClinicalTrials.gov IDs: NCT00001522, NCT00001195.
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The opinions and assertions expressed herein are those of the authors and are not to be construed as reflecting the views of the PHS, USUHS or the US Department of Defense.
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Tanofsky-Kraff, M., Shomaker, L., Stern, E. et al. Children's binge eating and development of metabolic syndrome. Int J Obes 36, 956–962 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2011.259
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2011.259
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