Binge eating disorder (BED) is the most prevalent eating disorder and it is associated with medical and psychiatric comorbidities. In contrast with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, which predominantly affect females, BED is common in both genders. This paper explores gender differences in BED using, to our knowledge, the largest sample of males published to date.
Methods:
Data from 408 women and 54 men who were participants in nine double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trials and two open-label trials of medications for BED were pooled. Using participant level data, men and women were compared on demographic, psychiatric, and general medical variables and treatment outcomes.
Results:
Men and women with BED who enrolled in pharmacotherapy studies were similar on most variables, including age of onset of BED, severity of BED symptoms, and treatment response. However, men were older at study entry, had lower levels of depressive symptoms, and a greater frequency of lifetime alcohol use disorders. In addition, men had significantly higher body mass indices, significantly higher systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and were taking more prescription medications for diabetes and dyslipidemia.
Conclusions:
While our results support findings of similarities between men and women with BED, they also suggest that men who participate in pharmacotherapy trials are older and have lower current depressive symptoms but have more alcohol use disorders and more metabolic dysregulation than women.
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