Navigation
Relative food abundance predicts greater binge-eating symptoms in subsequent hours among young adults experiencing food insecurity: Support for the “feast-or-famine” cycle hypothesis from an ecological momentary assessment study
There is little study on this subject; however, food insecurity (FI) may raise the risk for binge eating through a “feast-or-famine” cycle where changes in food supply correlate to alternating periods of food restriction and abundance/chances for binge eating. In order to better understand the connection between binge eating and the availability of food in the context of FI, this study by Hazzard et al. (2023) looked at the relationship between a person’s current level of food security and subsequent binge-eating symptoms among people living in food-insecure households. This study also looked at how this association varied depending on variables that could affect how much food availability fluctuates. From a sample of 75 young persons (Median age = 25.3 years ± 1.8 years; 72% female; 72% Indigenous, Black, or a Person of Colour) who had experienced past-month household FI, ecological momentary assessment data was gathered in 2020–2021. Participants provided information on food security and eating episodes four times per day for 14 days, and for each reported eating episode, binge-eating symptoms were evaluated. Multilevel analyses of the results revealed substantial within-person links between average binge-eating symptoms and the level of food security. Moderation studies showed that this link was only significant among those who had low self-efficacy concerning food security, reported using food assistance programs, or had a high level of resource trade-off coping (such as missing bill payments to acquire food). Overall, the authors comment that their findings highlight the significance of identifying strategies to promote more stable access to adequate food and suggest possible intervention areas to reduce the risk of binge eating in populations experiencing FI. The “feast-or-famine” cycle hypothesis, which explains the connection between FI and binge eating, is supported by the findings. [NPID: Food Insecurity, food assistance, self efficacy, binge eating, ecological momentary assessment, young adults]
Year: 2023
