Parent report of binge eating in Hispanic, African American and Caucasian youth

Binge eating is prevalent among weight loss treatment-seeking youth. However, there are limited data on the relationship between binge eating and weight in racial or ethnically diverse youth. We therefore examined 409 obese (BMI ≥ 95th percentile for age and sex) treatment-seeking Hispanic (29.1%), Caucasian (31.7%), and African American (39.2%), boys and girls (6–18 years). Weight, height, waist circumference, and body fat were measured to assess body composition. Depressive symptoms were measured with the Children's Depression Inventory and disordered eating cognitions were measured with the Children's Eating Attitudes Test. Accounting for age, sex, body fat mass, and height, the odds of parents reporting that their child engaged in binge eating were significantly higher among Caucasian compared to African American youth, with Hispanic youth falling non-significantly between these two groups. Youth with binge eating had greater body adiposity (p = .02), waist circumference (p = .02), depressive symptoms (p = .01), and disordered eating attitudes (p = .04), with no difference between racial or ethnic group. We conclude that, regardless of race or ethnicity, binge eating is prevalent among weight loss treatment-seeking youth and is associated with adiposity and psychological distress. Further research is required to elucidate the extent to which binge eating among racially and ethnically diverse youth differentially impacts weight loss outcome.

► Parent-report of binge eating in a diverse sample of obese treatment-seeking youth.
► Odds of binge eating were lowest among African American youth.
► Odds of binge eating did not differ between Caucasian and Hispanic youth.
► Binge eating was related to body composition and symptoms of psychological distress.
► Binge eating associations were not moderated by race or ethnicity.