What is a binge? The influence of amount, duration, and loss of control criteria on judgments of binge eating

Objective We investigated the influence of amount of food eaten, duration of eating episode, and loss of control in judgments of eating episodes as binges. Method Participants rated the degree to which the eating behavior of a female actress qualified as a “binge” after observing eight videotaped vignettes in which the amount of food eaten, apparent duration of eating episode, and loss of control were varied. Binge ratings were stable across a test‐retest interval of 3–4 weeks, there was minimal observer drift, and the experimental variables were independently perceived. Results A repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) on binge ratings revealed significant main effects for quantity and loss of control, and a significant Quantity × Time interaction. Discussion The results are consistent with the definitional criteria of a binge, underscore the independence of loss of control, and highlight the importance of the violation of dietary standards in judgments of binges. Moreover, they illustrate the reliability and sensitivity of the methodology, and its potential for further investigations of binge eating. © 2000 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 27: 471–479, 2000.