Perceived Discrimination and Binge Eating

Another risk factor is highlighted.

As reported during the International Conference in Salzburg, perceived stress and interpersonal discrimination significantly predicted between 9% and 30% of the variance in emotional eating scores, bulimic symptoms and frequency of binge eating.

Laura Durso, MA, Janet Latner, PhD, and Kantasro Jayashi, PhD, of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, examined the relationship between experiences of discrimination and occurrence of binge eating among obese persons and gay, lesbian, and bisexual persons, two populations that often report elevated rates of binge eating. The authors note that their results demonstrate the potential of discrimination as a risk factor for binge eating.