Hormone Release and Stomach Disturbances in People With Binge Eating Disorder
Condition: Binge Eating Disorder; Obesity; Eating Disorders
MeSH terms: Bulimia; Feeding and Eating Disorders; Binge-Eating Disorder
Study type: Observational

Summary: 
      This study will determine whether the disturbances in cholecystokinin release and gastric
      emptying that occur in people with binge eating disorder are similar to those that occur in
      people with bulimia nervosa.
    

Detailed description: 
      Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is a serious eating disorder that can occur in people of any
      weight, but occurs most frequently in people who are overweight. BED is characterized by the
      following eating behaviors: frequent episodes of eating large quantities of food in short
      periods of time; feeling out of control over one's eating behavior; feeling ashamed or
      disgusted by one's eating behavior; eating when not hungry; and eating in secret. BED is
      similar to Bulimia Nervosa (BN), in that binge eating is a characteristic of both disorders.
      However, people with BED do not purge after an episode of binge eating, and therefore often
      become overweight. The health risks of BED include those that are most commonly associated
      with clinical obesity. High blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, heart disease, diabetes
      mellitus, and gallbladder disease are all health problems that occur frequently in people
      with BED. CCK is a hormone that is released by the small intestine, and functions as a
      trigger for digestion and hunger suppression. People with BN often have disturbances in the
      release of cholecystokinin (CCK), which may contribute to their binge eating behavior. This
      study will determine whether the disturbances in CCK release and gastric emptying that occur
      in people with BED are similar to those that occur in people with BN.

      Participants in this study will report to the study site on two non-consecutive days within a
      2-week period for gastric emptying testing. On the day before the first study visit,
      participants will be instructed to eat a standardized dinner that does not include alcohol
      before 7 P.M., and not to eat or drink after 9 P.M. On the first day of testing, participants
      will lie in a semi-reclined position while drinking 600 ml of Ensure Plus. A gamma camera
      will be placed over the stomach to measure gastric emptying. In addition, a catheter will be
      inserted into the forearm of all participants for periodic blood testing throughout the
      process. On the second day of testing, participants will perform the same procedures, but the
      Ensure Plus will also contain a small amount of radioactive material so that gastric emptying
      can be tracked by the gamma camera. The testing procedure on each day will take approximately
      90 minutes.

      For information on related studies, please follow these links:

      http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00308776

      http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00304187
    

Observational model: Case-Control
Time perspective: Prospective
Sampling method: Non-Probability Sample
Study population: 
        Healthy, obese women between ages 18 and 60 with and without Binge Eating Disorder
      
Biospecimen description: 
      Blood serum
    
Keywords: BED