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.