Binge Eating and Psychological Distress: Investigating Relationships with Depression, Anxiety, and Stress

Binge eating (BE) involves the consumption of a greater amount of food than most people would under similar conditions, within a specified period and may be associated with various psychiatric disorders. This study aimed to compare the variables of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress among groups defined by the severity of binge eating symptoms. Participants were recruited through social media advertisements and responded online to the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and the Binge Eating Scale (BES). It was observed that individuals with medium-high depressive symptoms showed a higher presence of binge eating symptoms, while those with moderate, severe, and extremely severe anxiety symptoms exhibited an increased occurrence of binge eating. The findings suggest a need for interventions addressing binge eating with comorbidities such as depression and anxiety, or binge eating as a comorbidity of these conditions.