Negative mood induction and unbalanced nutrition style as possible triggers of binges in binge eating disorder (BED)

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether negative mood and unbalanced nutrition style (fat rich/carbohydrate low) synergistically trigger binge eating in overweight and obese binge eating disorder (BED) patients. METHODS: Subsequently to following an unbalanced or a balanced nutrition plan for three days, participants' food intake in a taste test was measured. During the taste test, participants were either in a negative or a neutral mood that was induced through a guided imagery task. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-nine overweight and obese women with BED (mean age: 36.7 years, mean body mass index: 32.8 kg/m2). MEASUREMENTS: Eating behavior was assessed by measuring the amount of eaten food during the taste test. Visual analog scales were used to assess negative affect, tension, urge to eat, and hunger before and after the mood induction and after the taste test. RESULTS: Negative mood and unbalanced nutrition had neither a combined synergistic effect nor separate additive effects on the amount of food intake. Negative affect and tension decreased after the taste test in the negative mood group. CONCLUSIONS: Negative mood does not invariably enhance the risk of binge-eating behavior. Fat-rich, carbohydrate-low nutrition style did not influence food intake during a taste test. This finding questions the role of this specific nutrition style as a crucial factor in promoting binge eating. If replicated, these findings are important, since they could guide development of treatment protocols.