Binge eating among university students

Submitted to
A part of General Psychology 201

Abu Dhabi University

Submitted by:

Rawan I. AlMajayda 1072663

Hala Nawaf Alhalah 1071708

Isra Sabri Mustafa Hassan 1066051

Luban Mahmoud Anka 1064294

Sara Essam Haj Ahmed 1064369

Under the guidance of

Dr: Smitha Dev

Table of contents:
Abstract

Introduction

Hypothesis

Literature review

Methodology

Results

Conclusion/discussion

Recommendation

Survey questions

References
Abstract:
This research is conducted to relate stress with binge eating disorder among university
students. The study is based on university students’ responses and previous studies about
eating disorders. This research discusses one of the most common eating disorders which is
binge eating. Binge eating is defined as compulsive overeating that is caused by different
reasons. Some of these reasons are psychological and biological factors, reasons related to
family history or genetic. The disorder is obviously reflected psychologically and physically
on the people suffering from it. Some of the effects include negative self-evaluation, major
depression and deliberate self-harm, and also body dissatisfaction. Moreover, the symptoms
visible on the individuals suffering from this disorder include consuming large quantities of
food in a short period of time in addition to eating more than the amount needed even when
full. This behavior is usually uncontrollable and happens frequently. Regarding the
treatments of binge eating disorder, it was concluded that Cognitive–behavioral therapy is the
best recognized treatment. Another way is by treating the main causes such as the
psychological factors.
Introduction:

Everybody tried eating large amounts of food at least once in their lifetime. It is definitely not
healthy, but it is something individuals do every now and then.
Binge Eating disorder (BED) is a serious illness in which individuals struggle with a severe
disturbance in their eating behaviors. They consume amounts of food that is certainly larger
than most people would eat regularly. Individuals who engage in binge eating are more likely
to be uncomfortable about their weight and behavior, so they usually eat on their own and try
to hide their behavior from others. In addition, eating disorders occur with different
disorders, usually psychiatric disorders like anxiety, panic and alcohol and drug abuse
problems, etc.
Some of the most common types of eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa
and binge eating disorder. Although eating disorders show different symptoms, they all affect
the mental and physical health. Moreover, there are many factors that cause eating disorders.
These factors could be genetic, biological or psychological effects.
The importance of this study is to understand more about binge eating disorder, how and why
some individuals are at risk of developing this disorder and to understand the causes and
effects of binge eating as well as helping the individuals recover. There are many
misconceptions about eating disorders, so it is important to eliminate them and to encourage
treatment. Therefore, the aim of this study is to recognize the causes and effects of binge
eating among young adolescents.
According to Gulf News (2017), the UAE has one of the highest rates of obesity in the world.
A study conducted by the University of Washington Institute for Health Metrics and
Evaluation found out that about 60 per cent of adults are obese. Moreover, more than 36 per
cent of the children in the country suffer from obesity. In fact, 11 years old patients are
indulged in binge eating as the most common eating disorder in the UAE.
Hypothesis:

There is a significant relationship between binge eating and stress among university students.

Literature review:
Symptoms:

 A WebMD article stated that the symptoms BED include could be: Eating abnormal
amounts of food in short times, losing control, eating quicker than usual, eating more
than the amount needed even when not hungry, feeling guilty after binging, dieting
regularly and having low self-confidence.
 According to a research conducted by Chambers, Binge eating disorder (BED)
symptoms include: Frequent episodes of binge eating, loss of control on how much is
being eaten as well as notable distress.

Causes:

The main cause of binge eating is still unknown, but just like any other disorder, the causes of
this eating disorder is a combination of many factors such as biological, psychology and
environmental.

Binge eating is usually linked to other mental disorders. “Nearly half of all people with binge
eating disorder have a history in depression”. (Bhandari, 2018)
There are many factors that increase the risk of binge eating:

1. Psychological issues: People who suffer from this disorder report that negative
emotions like anger and sadness drive them to eat greedily. In addition, triggers for
bingeing could be feeling negatively about the person’s appearance and
accomplishments which is common in people with eating disorders.
2. Family history and the environment: The environment and family could sometimes
be a reason for binge eating disorder. For example, using food as a reward or a way to
comfort, in such cases, the family is developing a learned behaviour that leads to
binge eating disorder. Moreover, inherited genes are a reason of eating disorders.
Having a person in the family with an eating disorder increases the risk of having a
similar disorder in the next generation.
3. Biological factors: Another reason that is still under study is “the abnormal
functioning of chemical messages to the brain involving hormones that regulate
appetite” (Bhandari, 2018) in addition to the proteins that regulate body metabolism
and blood sugar levels such as adiponectin.
4. Dieting: strict dieting plans is another reason for this disorder. It triggers the urge of
binge eat especially when combined with another factor (usually depression).
5. Medical factors: binge eating disorder could be a side effect of a specific medication
that stimulates the appetite and makes people unable to sense when they are full after
eating.

Effects:

1) Fairburn, C. G., Doll, H. A., Welch, S. L., Hay, P. J., Davies, B. A., & O'Connor,
M. E. (1998) connected many social and individual negative effects to binge eating,
because this problem is popular among young people and teenagers this make them
affected more easily. Many of these factors can lead to bigger problems that affect the
lives of people on the long term. Researchers found that people who binge eat are
highly exposed to negative self-evaluation, parental depression, major depression and
deliberate self-harm. In addition to facing many parental problems like: parental
criticism, high expectations, minimal affection and maternal low care. And they were
more likely to report sexual and physical abuse, bullying and a history of abortion.
 The results of this study showed that almost all the subjects were exposed to family
abuse whether it’s bullying or physical abuse or critical comments by family members
about the shape, weight or obesity.
The study also emphasizes that binge eating disorder is related to a certain childhood
experience, parental depression and continuous exposure to negative comments about
the shape and weight.

2) Jennifer M. Jones, Susan Bennett, Marion P. Olmsted, Margaret L. Lawson,

Gary Rodin (2001) studied the effects of binge eating on teenage girls and their
results showed that there is a higher drive for thinness, body dissatisfaction and
bulimia. The results showed that 38% of the girls were feeling very overweight, while
47% of the respondents were very unhappy about their weight.
The study concluded that disordered eating behaviors were present in over 27% of the
participants aged between 12-18 years, and these eating disorders are increasing
gradually each year, so unless there is a serious action taken to help these girls, it will
turn into a major health and psychological problems that can risk their lives.

Attitudes and behaviors:

Eating disorder, attitudes and behaviors, seem to be entirely common in youth, and they have
been known as a subgroup of the population at particularly high risk for approving such
symptoms. Overweight and eating disorder (ED) symptomatology independently confer
significant threats to one's physical and psychosocial health. Strong links with body weight
gain is shown and risk for ED development.

Binge eating has been observed as a connection in adults as well. This is not only because of
the negative health consequences connected independently with both disordered and
overweight eating but also because each condition may maintain the other. Childhood
overweight increases the risk for disordered eating, it predicts further weight gain
instantaneously.
Disordered eating attitudes and behaviors among youth who’s overweight, is a cause of
concern and likely to be faced in the clinical setting. Assumed the overlap of these syndromes
and their shared relationship with conflicting physical and mental health, it is important for
researchers to study, prevent and treat these problems. Future research must focus on
determining etiological ways for the development of these problems, with increased attention
to previously understated but however at‐risk subgroups such as racial/ethnic minorities and
youths. Anticipation and treatment programs should utilize both cognitive behavioral and
socioecological approaches, focusing on both person behaviors
and relevant chance components, and incorporate the shared objectives of existing mediations
for cluttered eating‐ and weight‐related issues.

Treatment:

1) Grilo, Carlos. M., Masheb and other researchers (2011) conducted a study that
compared Cognitive–behavioural therapy(CBT), behavioural weight loss(BWL), and
a consecutive approach in which CBT is conveyed first, followed by BWL (CBT +
BWL). The trial was as followed: 125 obese patients diagnosed with BED were
randomly assigned to 1 of the 3 manualized treatments distributed in groups.
Independent assessments were performed post treatment and at 6- and 12-month
follow-ups. As a result, at 12-month follow-up, the reduction rates to treat binge
eating were 51% (CBT), 36% (BWL), and 40% (CBT + BWL), and mean percent
BMI losses were −0.9, −2.1, and 1.5, respectively. Analyses discovered that CBT
contributed significantly in decreasing binge eating than BWL through 12-month
follow-up and that BWL contributed significantly in increasing percent BMI loss
during treatment. In conclusion, Cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) is the best
recognized treatment for binge-eating disorder (BED) however it does not contribute
to weight loss.

2) Silja Vocks, Brunna Tuschen‐Caffier, Reinhard Pietrowsky and other

researchers (2010) conducted a study to find out the effectiveness of psychological
and pharmacological treatments for binge eating disorder. As a result, from
randomized controlled preliminaries, psychotherapy and systematized self‐help, both
based on cognitive behavioural interventions, were found to have an enormous
contribution to the decrease of binge eating. With respect to, pharmacotherapy,
 mainly involving antidepressants, randomized controlled preliminaries uncovered
medium impacts for the decrease of binge eating. Uncontrolled studies on weight‐loss
treatments showed moderate decreases of binge eating. Combination treatments did
not result in higher effects compared with single‐treatment regimens. Aside from
weight‐loss treatment, none of the mediations brought about a significant weight
decrease.

Prevention:

In some cases, it might be impossible to prevent this disorder, but if someone noticed the
symptoms of binge eating, he/she has to seek a professional treatment as soon as possible
before the situation worsens. In addition, avoiding the factors of binge eating is a good way to
stay in the safe side. For example, maintaining healthy behaviors and eating habits besides
reinforcing a healthy body image will reduce the risk of developing an eating disorder.

Methodology:

This research was conducted through quantitative analysis using a questionnaire and
investigated among the students in Abu Dhabi University (ADU). A total of 50
questionnaires were distributed.
The questionnaire was made up of Likert scale and close ended questions, to evaluate the
answers about binge eating.

Research Design:
Nature of Variables Tools Samples Nature of Statistics used
study analysis
 Survey Effects of Questionnaire 50 Quantitative Simple %
method binge eating analysis
ADU students
and stress on
ADU students

Results:
Table 1:
A) Weight satisfaction

Status % Rating
Very satisfied 22.45% 11

Neutral 36.73% 18
Unsatisfied 40.82% 20
Total 49

B) Binge eaters suffering from any psychological or physical complications

Status % Rating
Yes 14.29% 7
No 85.71% 42
Total 49

Table 1 (A) 40.82% stated that they were completely unsatisfied with their weight and
36.73% are not sure whether they are satisfied or not with their weight. However, table (B)
shows that the majority of students with 85.71% suffer from binge eating do not complain
from any psychological or physical complications and the remaining 14.29% do suffer from
psychological and physical complications such as pressure, distressing, stomachache etc.

Table 2:
A) Feeling of guilt or satisfaction after binge eating

Status % Rating
Satisfaction 36.00% 18
 Guilt 64.00% 32
Total 50

B) Engaging in compensatory behavior (purging, fasting or excessive exercise) after

Status % Rating
Yes 42.00% 21
No 58.00% 29
Total 50

Table 2 (A) shows that 64% feel guilty after binge eating which only proves that those
students experience the characteristics of binge eating. Table (B) shows that 58% do not
engage in compensatory behavior after consuming large amount of food and 42% do engage
in such behaviors which mean if they don’t suffer from binge eating disorder they suffer from
other eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.

Table 3:
A) Binge eaters eat alone
Status % Rating
Yes 62% 31
No 38% 19
Total 50

B) How students would like to solve their binge eating problem

Status % Rating
Talk to a family member 20% 10
Talk to a friend 22% 11
Consult a specialist 26% 13
Keep it a secret 32% 16
Total 50

Table (A) the majority of respondents prefer to binge eat alone with a percentage of 62%
while the remaining 38% prefer to be with company.
Because they prefer to binge eat alone, most of the respondents would keep this problem to
themselves with a percentage of 32%, 26% would rather consult a specialist,22% will talk to
a friend and only 20% would talk to their family members as shown in table (B).

Table 4:

A) Large food consumption

 Status % Rating
Yes 58% 29
No 42% 21
Total 50

B) Times of consuming large amount of food

Status % Rating
No consumption of large 26% 13
amount
1-3 times 62% 31
4-7 times 12% 6
8-13 times 0% 0
Total 50

According to table 4 (A) most of the respondents admit that they consume large amounts of
food even when they are not hungry, while 42% don’t.
However, in table (B) the majority responded that they occasionally consume large amount of
food, only 1-3 times per week with a percentage of 62%, while 26% said they don/t consume
extra amount of food. Only 12% said that they heavily consumed extra food 4 times to daily
and no one said that they exceed 7 times.

Conclusion/discussion:
After the extensive study done, it was concluded that the experiment supports the hypothesis
which states that there is a significant relationship between binge eating and stress among
university students. Majority of the students consume food even if they are full or not feeling
hungry while 42% of the students reported the opposite. Moreover, the survey results show
that 62% of the student’s binge eat 1-3 times a week which makes them prone to have binge
eating disorder according to the research. In addition, the study proves that stress drives
people to binge eat then feel guilty. In contrast, the findings support the study and hypothesis
by showing that 64% of the students reported feeling guilty after binge eating.

Recommendation:
 It is recommended that students should monitor themselves to control the amount of
food they consume each day.
  During your free time or while watching something try to distract yourself with
anything other than eating or choose a healthy snack to eat.
 Always seek help from your doctor, friend or family member if needed.
 Read more about eating disorders.

Survey questions:
1. Are you satisfied about your weight?
Very satisfied
Satisfied
Neutral
Unsatisfied
Not satisfied at all

2. Do you often eat alone?

Yes
No

3. Do you lack the ability to stop eating once you have started?
Yes
No

4. Do you consume food even if you’re not hungry or full?

Yes
No

5. Do you eat until you feel sick?

Yes
No

6. After binge eating you feel satisfied or guilty?

Satisfied
Guilty
7. How often do you consume food in large amounts per week?
I don’t consume food in large amounts
1-3times
4-7 times
8-13 times

8. After consuming large amount of food, do you feel the need in engaging in compensatory
behaviors, such as purging, fasting, or excessive exercise?
Yes
No

9. If you suffer from binge eating disorder do you face any psychological or physical
complications?
Yes (please specify)
No

10. If I suffer from binge eating I would rather:

Talk to my family
Talk to my friends
Consult a specialist
Keep it to myself
References:
 Bhandari, S. (2018, May 20). Binge eating disorder causes and prevention. Retrieved
from: https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/eating-disorders/binge-eating-
disorder/binge-eating-disorder-causes

 Chambers, N. (Ed.). (2009). Binge eating : Psychological factors, symptoms and

treatment. Retrieved from https://ebookcentral.proquest.com

 Clinic,M. (2011, June 09). Binge-eating disorder. Retrieved from:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/binge-eating-disorder/symptoms-
causes/syc-20353627

 Fairburn, C. G., Doll, H. A., Welch, S. L., Hay, P. J., Davies, B. A., & O'Connor, M.
E. (1998). Risk factors for binge eating disorder: a community-based, case-control
study. Archives of general psychiatry, 55(5), 425-432.

 Grilo, C. M., Masheb, R. M., Wilson, G. T., Gueorguieva, R., & hite, M. A. (2011).
Cognitive–behavioral therapy, behavioral weight loss, and sequential treatment for
obese patients with binge-eating disorder: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of
Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 79(5), 675-685.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0025049

 Jones, J. M., Bennett, S., Olmsted, M. P., Lawson, M. L., & Rodin, G. (2001).
Disordered eating attitudes and behaviours in teenaged girls: a school-based
study. Cmaj, 165(5), 547-552.
 NIMH. (n.d.). Eating disorders. Retrieved from
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/eating-disorders/index.shtml

 Parekh, R. (2017, January). What are eating disorders? Retrieved from

https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/eating-disorders/what-are-eating-
disorders

 Petre, A. (2017, September). 6 common types of eating disorders (and their

symptoms). Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/common-eating-
disorders
 The Symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/eating-disorders/binge-eating-disorder/binge-
eating-disorder-symptoms

 Vocks, S. , Tuschen‐Caffier, B. , Pietrowsky, R. , Rustenbach, S. J., Kersting, A. and

Herpertz, S. (2010), Meta‐analysis of the effectiveness of psychological and
pharmacological treatments for binge eating disorder. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 43: 205-217.
doi:10.1002/eat.20696

 Wilfley, A. B.‐K. (2012). Disordered Eating Attitudes and Behaviors in Overweight

Youth. Retrieved from Wiley Online Library:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1038/oby.2007.48

 Zaman, S. (2017, February). More and more young people suffer from binge eating.
Retrieved from https://gulfnews.com/uae/health/more-and-more-young-people-suffer-
from-binge-eating-1.1985170