According to a recent Brazilian study, body image dissatisfaction is strongly related to binge-eating episodes, particularly in women. Binge eating is defined as the consumption of a large quantity of food over a short time frame, accompanied by a feeling of loss of control over what is being consumed. Binge eating is associated with obesity and is a major component of bulimia nervosa (BN).

In the study, both male and female subjects shopping in several malls were interviewed about eating habits, particularly binge eating, as well as their perception of their body weight - whether they thought weight was above the ideal, below the ideal or ideal.

Study results showed that the prevalence of binge-eating episodes was higher among those who were overweight or obese (both women and men) than those who were of normal weight, and also higher among those who felt their weight to be above the ideal, rather than ideal or below ideal.

But in those women who were actually of normal weight or below (defined by a BMI of less than 25), those who perceived their weight to be above ideal - in spite of evidence to the contrary - also had a high prevalence of binge-eating episodes. This finding was not present among men.

This study suggests that women who have a distorted body image and dissatisfaction with their bodies may have a greater risk for binge-eating behaviors.