Low quality of life in binge eating disorder compared to healthy controls.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Patients with binge eating disorder (BED) tend to report a lower quality of life (QoL) than patients with other eating disorders. However, most research on QoL in eating disorders include generic rather than disease-specific measures. Depression and obesity are frequent comorbid conditions in patients with BED affecting QoL. In the present study, we aimed to assess disease-specific QoL in BED and to investigate the impact of obesity and depression. METHODS: Adult patients who met the DSM-5 criteria for BED (N = 98) were recruited from a newly established specialised online treatment programme for BED and completed the following questionnaires the Eating Disorder Quality of Life Questionnaire (EDQLS), the Major Depression Inventory (MDI) and the newly introduced Binge Eating Disorder Questionnaire for measuring BED severity. Healthy, normal-weight individuals were recruited through online invitations on social media, n = 190. RESULTS: QoL in BED individuals was significantly lower than in healthy individuals. No relationship was found between BMI and EDQLS, whereas significant, negative correlations were found between depression and all subscales of the EDQLS. CONCLUSION: Disease-specific QoL in BED was associated with depression but not with BMI. FUNDING: none. CLINICALTRIALS gov NCT05010798.