NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The success of weight-loss in overweight and obese individuals with type 2 diabetes is not affected by a history of binge eating, according to a report in the Archives of General Psychiatry.

Although binge eating is often seen in those with diabetes type 2, there has been little research on its impact on weight loss, lead author Dr. Amy A. Gorin from the University of Connecticut, Storrs, and colleagues explain.

The current investigation involved 5,145 subjects, between 45 and 76 years of age, who were enrolled in the Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) study, a weight-loss trial in which subjects were randomly assigned to an intensive lifestyle intervention or to support and education only.

At the start of the trial and 1 year later, 85.4 percent of the patients reported no binge eating at either time period. Binge eating only at the beginning of the trial was reported by 7.5 percent, binge eating during both time periods was reported by 3.7 percent, and binge eating only after 1 year was reported by 3.4 percent.

The average weight loss for patients who had stopped binge eating at 1 year was 11.7 pounds (5.3 kilograms), which is comparable to the 10.6 pounds (4.8 kg) loss seen in subjects who reported no binge eating. By contrast, for subjects who continued binge eating or who reported it at 1 year, the average weight loss was lower, roughly 6.6 pounds (3.0 kg).

Further analysis suggested that the differences in weight loss between the groups was attributable to the difference in caloric intake, the authors note.

Patients who stop binge eating can be just as successful at losing weight as non-binge eaters, Gorin and colleagues conclude. Furthermore, they add: "This study lends further support to the recommendation that binge eating is not exacerbated by behavioral weight loss treatment and in fact may be improved by participating in a structured weight loss program targeting lifestyle changes."

SOURCE: Archives of General Psychiatry, December 2008.

• More News on Diabetes
• More News on Eating Disorders
• More News on Weight Control

Related MedlinePlus Pages:

• Diabetes
• Eating Disorders
• Weight Control