d6246746-1400-4589-8079-9dbdf2d1a86e
title
Binge-eating episodes are not characteristic of carriers of  melanocortin-4 receptor melanocortin-4 receptor gene  mutations.
20a94df8-83f3-4cf5-a94d-3d8458fba23a
abstract
Recently, Branson and coworkers reported a strong association between binge-eating disorder (BED) and variants in the  melanocortin-4 receptor melanocortin-4 receptor gene  ( MC4R ). In the current study, we compared the eating behavior of 43 obese probands with functionally relevant  MC4R  mutations and of 35 polymorphism carriers ( V103I  or  I251L ) with wild-type carriers. The module for eating disorders of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview was used to identify binge-eating behavior. The Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire and the Leeds Food Frequency Questionnaire were used to assess restrained eating, disinhibition, hunger and percent total energy intake as fat. No significant differences between carriers of  MC4R  variants and wild-type carriers were detected. In particular, we found no evidence for an increased rate of binge-eating behavior in obese carriers of  MC4R  variants. Our findings do not support the strong association between BED and  MC4R  carrier status.