Eating in the absence of hunger during childhood predicts self-reported binge eating in adolescence

- Calories consumed during the Eating in the Absence of Hunger (EAH) protocol at age 15 predict continuous scores on the Binge Eating Scale (BES) at age 15
- Calories consumed during the Eating in the Absence of Hunger (EAH) protocol at age 15 predict presence of binge eating at age 15
- Among girls with high-EAH at age 7, girls with elevated BMI, negative affect, and maladaptive eating- and weight-related cognitions were at increased risk

ObjectiveThe objectives of the current study were to examine whether eating in the absence of hunger (EAH) at age 7 predicted reports of self-reported binge eating at age 15 and to identify factors among girls with high-EAH that moderated risk of later binge eating.MethodSubjects included 158 girls assessed at age 7 and age 15. Logistic regression was used to predict binge eating at age 15 from calories consumed during EAH at age 7. A series of logistic regressions were used to examine the odds of reporting binge eating given levels of risk factors (e.g., anxiety) among those with high-EAH in childhood.ResultsGirls' EAH intake predicted reports of binge eating at age 15; after adjusting for age 7 BMI, for each additional 100 kcal consumed, girls were 1.7 times more likely to report binge eating in adolescence. Among those with high-EAH, BMI, anxiety, depression, dietary restraint, emotional disinhibition, and body dissatisfaction all predicted binge eating.DiscussionEAH during childhood predicted reports of binge eating during adolescence; girls with elevated BMI, negative affect, and maladaptive eating- and weight-related cognitions were at increased risk. High-EAH in childhood may be useful for indicating those at risk for developing binge eating.