Frequency and Associations of Binge-Eating Behavior Patterns With Gastrointestinal Symptoms: A Cross-Sectional Study

TL;DR

This study finds that binge-eating behavior is strongly linked to gastrointestinal issues like heartburn and diarrhea in patients.

Contribution

The study provides new evidence of the association between binge-eating and specific gastrointestinal symptoms in a clinical setting.

Findings

Binge-eating behavior was significantly associated with heartburn (p-value 0.009) and diarrhea (p-value 0.008).

Over half of the participants reported experiencing abdominal pain, and nearly 40% reported bloating or constipation.

More than a third of participants reported weight gain linked to binge-eating episodes.

Abstract

Background and aim

Binge-eating behavior (BED) poses a significant public health issue worldwide, as it has severe implications for both the physical and gastrointestinal symptoms. The present study evaluated the prevalence of BED with these symptoms. Furthermore, we assessed the correlation between binge eating and gastrointestinal symptoms.

Methods

Two hundred and nineteen patients were enrolled in the study from OPD of the Department of Gastroenterology, Mayo Hospital Lahore. After informed consent, the patient's demographics and complete medical history were obtained. Then, patients were asked about their physical symptoms of heartburn, diarrhea, weight gain, bloating, and pain in the abdomen using a questionnaire. Frequency percentages will be calculated for categorical variables, and chi-square will be used to assess associations.

Results

Out of 219, 114 (52.1%) were male, and 105 (47.9%) were female. The minimum age of the participants was 15, and the maximum age was 56, with a mean age of 31.10 ± 8.214. Eighty-three (27.9%) had one episode of physical gastrointestinal symptoms while having a binge-eating behavioral pattern, 93 (42.5%) had two to three episodes, and 43 (19.6%) had more than three episodes in the last six months. And in these hospital visits, 128 (58.4%) had the symptoms of heartburn. Eighty (36.9%) suffered from weight gain, 86 (39.3%) suffered from constipation/bloating, and 118 (53.9%) suffered from pain in the abdomen, while 86 (39.3%) suffered from diarrhea. There was a significant association between the heartburn and BED pattern, with a p-value of 0.009 (≤0.05), and with diarrhea that was with a p-value of 0.008 (≤0.05).

Conclusion

This study emphasizes the strong correlation between binge-eating habits and gastrointestinal problems, including diarrhea and heartburn. These results highlight the necessity of all-encompassing management approaches that take into account BED's psychological and physical components.