The prevalence and correlates of binge eating disorder in the World Health Organization World Mental Health Surveys.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Little population-based data exist outside the United States on the epidemiology of binge eating disorder (BED). Cross-national BED data are presented here and compared with bulimia nervosa (BN) data in the World Health Organization (WHO) World Mental Health Surveys.

Methods

Community surveys with 24,124 respondents (ages 18+) across 14 mostly upper-middle and high-income countries assessed lifetime and 12-month DSM-IV mental disorders with the WHO Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Physical disorders were assessed with a chronic conditions checklist.

Results

Country-specific lifetime prevalence estimates are consistently (median; interquartile range) higher for BED (1.4%; .8-1.9%) than BN (.8%; .4-1.0%). Median age of onset is in the late teens

SUBMITTER: Kessler RC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3628997 | biostudies-literature | 2013 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature