The aim of study was to evaluate mood and impulsivity in obese people with binge eating disorder.

A total of 149 obese subjects [71 with Binge Eating Disorder (BED) and 78 without BED] were included in the study and compared to 151 non-clinical populations. They were assessed with the Structured Clinical Interview (SCID-I), Eating Attitudes Test (EAT), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Barrat Impulsiveness Scale-11 (BIS-11).

The ratio of obese subjects with BED is 47,6%. Obesity and BED prevalence was higher in female patients. Childhood obesity was significantly more frequent in obese subjects with BED (p < 0.05). the history of admission to psychiatry clinics and the ratio of suicide attempt were more frequent in obese group. the ratio sixty one of the 146 (41,2%) subjects with obesity had diagnosed as depressive disorder according to DSM-IV criteria. Thirty three of 71 BED (46,5%) had diagnosed as depressive disorder. there are no significant differences between BED(+) and BED(-) groups for depression (p > 0.05). Cognitive impulsivity and nonplanning activity scores of depressive group were significantly higher than the subjects without depression. (p < 0.05). Cognitive impulsivity scores of depressive obese were significantly higher than the obese without depression (p < 0.05).

[Table-1].

Obesity is strongly related with depression and impulsivity. Impulsivity was significantly higher in depressive obese subjects than non-depressive ones. Futhermore, impulsivity was a prominent feature in obese subjects with BED. This also provides clues for influences of each of these two characteristics on obesity.