



































Interpreter-Mediated Therapy for Refugees:


Graduate Student Journal of Psychology          Copyright 2011 by the Department of Counseling and Clinical Psychology 

2011, Vol. 13               Teachers College, Columbia University 

45 

 

Binge Eating Behaviors and Motoric, Attentional, and Nonplanning Impulsivity 
 

Keiko Y. Miller and Beth Limberg 
Alliant International University 

 
This study investigated the relationship between three distinct types of impulsivity (motoric, 

attentional, and nonplanning) and binge eating behaviors in 76 adult women.  The participants 

completed a binge eating measure (Eating Disorder Diagnostic Scale) and an impulsivity measure 

(Barratt Impulsivity Scale).  A significant difference was found between the impulsive behaviors of 

binge eaters and non-binge eaters, but binge eating alone was not significantly related to type of 

impulsivity.  Post-hoc analysis demonstrated that binge eaters had significantly higher levels of 

attentional and nonplanning impulsivity than non-binge eaters.  When we used participants’ scores 

from the extreme ends of the distribution, comparing binge eaters with non-binge eaters reporting 

no symptoms, the analysis demonstrated significantly higher levels of motoric impulsivity in 

addition to attentional and nonplanning impulsivity among binge eaters.  The implications of these 

results are discussed, as are areas for future research. 

 

 

Many individuals binge eat at some point in their lives 

but will never develop disordered eating problems that 

interrupt their daily functioning.  The difference between the 

normal incidence of binge eating and a Binge Eating 

Disorder (BED) is based on food consumption patterns (i.e., 

intake frequency, duration of binge eating, and amount of 

food consumed at a time) (Keel, 2005; Fairburn, 1995).  

Women are 1.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with BED 

than men (Keel, 2005).  Several researchers claim that binge 

eating results from restricting food intake and is used as a 

way to avoid feeling intense emotions (Polivy & Herman, 

1985; Heatherton & Baumeister, 1991). 

Others have 

correlated binge eating with impulsivity, which is also 

associated with obesity among women (Davis, Levitan, 

Smith, Tweed, & Curtis, 2006; Nederkoorn, Braet, Van Eijs, 

Tanghe, & Jansen, 2005), substance abuse (Kane, Loxton, 

Staiger, & Dawe, 2004), spontaneity and sensation seeking 

(Wonderlich, Connolly, & Stice, 2004), and dietary 

overcontrol and dietary restraint (Steiger, Lehoux, & Gauvin, 

1999).  Impulsivity is commonly associated with an inability 

to inhibit specific actions, irresponsibility, and a failure to 

consider the consequences of one’s actions (Logan, Schachar, 

& Tannock, 1997; Moeller, Barratt, Dougherty, Schmitz, & 

Swann, 2001; Patton, Stanford, & Barratt, 1995).  Studies 

examining comorbidity between Attention Deficit 

Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and overeating have found 

connections between ADHD and childhood obesity (Agranat-

Meged et al.  2005; Rojo, Ruiz, Dominguez, Calaf, & 

                                                 
This study was supported by California School of Professional 

Psychology-Alliant International University. The authors would like 

to thank Remuda Ranch Treatment Center, Summit Eating 

Disorders, Sean McFarland, and Ellyn Herb for their assistance in 

data collection.  

Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to 

Keiko Y. Miller, California School of Professional Psychology, 

Alliant International University, 2030 W. El Camino Avenue, Ste. 

200, Sacramento, CA 95833. Email: 

impulsivityresearch@gmail.com. 

Livianos, 2006) and eating disorders (Biederman et al., 2007; 

Altfas, 2002). 

Three aspects of ADHD (hyperactivity, inattention, and 

poor executive functioning) are similar to three aspects in 

Barratt’s impulsivity model (motoric, attentional, and 

nonplanning impulsivity; Barratt, 1993).  Barratt’s 

impulsivity model considers biological, cognitive, 

environmental, and behavioral factors impacting an 

individual (Patton et al., 1995).  Motoric impulsivity, 

engaging in a behavior with no prior thinking/reasoning, has 

been associated with difficulty in maintaining treatment gains 

following successful obesity treatment (Nederkoorn, Jansen, 

Mulkens, & Jansen, 2006).  Attentional impulsivity, making 

quick decisions without paying attention to stimuli, has been 

shown to result in less positive parenting and parental 

involvement (Zinchuk, Noe, & Gerdes, 2007).  Finally, 

nonplanning impulsivity, orienting oneself in the present with 

no regard for future consequences or events, has been shown 

to affect one’s sensitivity to positive rewards, such as praise 

and money (De Wit, Flory, Acheson, McCloskey, & Manuck, 

2007).  When examining the association between binge 

eating and motoric, attentional, and nonplanning impulsivity, 

binge eaters have been shown to have higher levels of all 

three types of impulsivity during meals (following an 8-hour 

fast) and during cortisol suppression (after receiving 

dexamethasone, which reduces stress levels), but lower levels 

of nonplanning impulsivity on several behavioral measures of 

response planning compared to non-binge eaters (Galanti, 

Gluck, & Geliebter, 2007; Diaz-Marsá et al., 2008; Rosval et 

al., 2006). 

Given the current literature that suggests an association 

between binge eating behaviors and impulsivity (Lledo & 

Waller, 2001; Rosval et al., 2006; Díaz-Marsá et al., 2008; 

Galanti et al., 2007), this study analyzes the relationship 

between three specific types of impulsivity (i.e., motoric, 

attentional and nonplanning) and how it affects eating 

behaviors using a sample of binge eaters and non-binge 

eaters.  This study attempts to clarify any misinterpretations 



MILLER & LIMBERG 

 

46 

 

about how impulsivity affects eating behaviors and highlights 

the importance of how the term “impulsivity” is defined in 

the current literature.  Based on the research reviewed above, 

we hypothesized that binge eaters would have higher levels 

of attentional and motoric impulsivity and lower levels of 

nonplanning impulsivity compared to non-binge eaters. 

 

Method 

 

Measures 

Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-version 11 (BIS-11).  The 

BIS-11 measures motoric, attentional, and nonplanning 

impulsivity (Barratt, 1993).  The participants were asked to 

respond to items examining how frequently they engage in 

impulsive behaviors on a four-point Likert scale ranging 

from 1 (rarely/never) to 4 (almost always).  The measure 

produces a score for each type of impulsivity as well as a 

total impulsivity score.  The coefficient alphas (internal 

reliability) from previous research were .72 with substance 

abusers, .82 with undergraduate students, and .83 with 

psychiatric patients (Rosval et al., 2006).  

 

Eating Disorder Diagnostic Scale (EDDS).  The EDDS 

is a diagnostic measure that is intended to diagnose Anorexia 

Nervosa (AN), Bulimia Nervosa (BN) and BED using the 

DSM-IV-TR criteria (Stice, Telch, & Rizvi, 2000).  

However, a binge eating subscale, which is based on the 

EDDS, was organized by the first author for the purpose of 

examining binge eating behaviors among those who endorse 

a range of symptoms, including those who endorse none.  

The binge eating subscale is comprised of the ten BED 

diagnostic items (based on the DSM-IV-TR) listed in the 

original EDDS measure for the purpose of determining 

presence of binge eating behaviors.  At the time this study 

was conducted, no such scale had been published.  On both 

the original EDDS and the binge eating subscale, symptoms 

are rated by participants using a Likert-type scale ranging 

from yes/no responses to numbered responses (Stice, Telch, 

& Rizvi, 2000).  There is good internal consistency indicated 

by a Cronbach’s alpha of .89 for the original EDDS measure 

(Stice, Fisher, & Martinez, 2004).  The binge eating subscale 

is comprised of eight yes/no and two Likert scale answer 

choices.  One point per item was counted for participants 

endorsing yes on any of the eight yes/no items and for 

circling any number besides zero on each of the two Likert 

scale items.  The overall maximum score was 10.  The 

coefficient alpha (internal reliability) for the subscale was 

.94, but the external validity for the subscale has not been 

determined since the subscale has not yet been validated.  

It may have been more useful and more powerful to use 

a scale that assesses only binge eating behaviors, however the 

one binge eating scale published (Binge Eating Scale) only 

assesses the severity of binge eating in obese binge eaters 

(Gormally, Black, Daston, & Rardin, 2002).  Therefore, it 

was not feasible to use the Binge Eating Scale in this study 

because the sample population was not intended to exclude 

non-obese individuals.   

Participants 

A total of 76 adult women participated in this study.  

They were divided into a binge eating group and a non-binge 

eating group in order to examine the associations and 

differences between the two groups.  A median split was 

conducted because the population sample was non-normal 

and it provided a way to equally divide the number of 

participants into each group.  The binge-eating group 

comprised of participants who endorsed a total of 9+ points 

on the binge eating subscale, and the non-binge eating group 

comprised of those that endorsed 0 to 8.89 points on the 

binge eating subscale.  The binge-eating group comprised of 

40 women and the non-binge eating group comprised of 36 

women.  Since a large number of non-binge eating 

participants fell on the extreme ends of the distribution, an 

additional median split was conducted.  After the median 

split, the non-binge eating group (n=10) comprised of 

participants that endorsed 0 points on the subscale, and the 

binge eating group (n=40) comprised of participants that 

endorsed a total of 9+ points on the subscale.  The sample 

size remained unchanged for the binge eating group after the 

median split.  All of the participants ranged in age from 17 to 

56 years old (M = 28.85 years).  Their ethnicity composition 

was 66% European American, 16% Asian American, 8% 

Hispanic American, 7% African American, and 3% Pacific 

Islander.  The participants income ranged from $0-$100,000+ 

(M = $14,294). 

The participants were originally recruited from eating 

disorder treatment centers, private therapists, and a 

community college class via mail.  Each participant received 

a sealed research packet consisting of a letter of introduction, 

informed consent form, BIS-11 and EDDS questionnaires.  A 

second attempt was made to increase the sample size of this 

study by recruiting participants online through the National 

Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) and through a survey 

website called PsychData.  Initially, we mailed 50 packets 

over a 4-month period and 30 participants returned the 

packets.  The response rate jumped to a total of 86 research 

packets after using PsychData for three weeks.  It was the 

first author’s original intention to use the whole population 

sample to correlate the binge eating subscale with the EDDS; 

however, this could not be done because there was an 

unforeseen PsychData website restriction in transferring a 

hardcopy of the EDDS to a softcopy on PsychData; therefore, 

the online data could not be utilized for examining the 

validity of the binge eating subscale. 

 

Procedure 

All participants were treated ethically and in accordance 

with the American Psychological Association’s guidelines 

regarding treatment of human subjects, obtaining consent 

from participants, conducting data collection, and handling 

confidential materials.  This study was submitted to the 

Institutional Review Board of a major university in 

California and was approved.  Participants who were 

recruited through the eating disorder treatment centers gave 

prior consent to participate in the study and were given the 



BINGE EATING BEHAVIORS AND IMPULSIVITY  

 

47 

 

sealed research packets individually by a proctor at the 

research site.  Participants who were recruited through a 

community college class gave prior consent and the 

classroom professor administered the sealed packets to 

consenting students.  All participants were offered an 

opportunity to enroll in a raffle to win either a $10 Starbucks 

or Amazon.com gift card as an incentive for their 

participation. 

 

Results 

 

Binge Eating Subscale and EDDS 
 The correlation between the EDDS scale and the binge 

eating subscale was calculated to test whether the binge 

eating subscale could be externally validated in the future.  A 

significant positive correlation was found between the EDDS 

scale and the binge eating subscale: participants who had 

higher scores on the binge eating subscale also had higher 

scores on the EDDS (r = .36, p < .01).  However, the strength 

of that relationship was relatively weak (r
2
 = .13), suggesting 

that, while the binge eating subscale and the EDDS are 

statistically related, they are measuring different constructs.  

Participants who had higher scores on the binge eating 

subscale also had higher scores on the attentional, motoric, 

and nonplanning subscales of the BIS-11, and higher 

combined scores across all three subscales.  Participants who 

had higher attentional impulsivity had higher motoric and 

nonplanning impulsivity.  In addition, participants who had 

higher motoric impulsivity also had higher nonplanning 

impulsivity.  A zero-order correlation matrix of the EDDS, 

BIS-11, binge eating subscale, and attentional, motoric, and 

nonplanning subscales is presented in Table 1.  The means 

and standard deviations of the whole sample and extreme 

sample by type of impulsivity and group are presented in 

Table 2. 

  

Binge Eating and Type of Impulsivity 

 First, we conducted two-sample t-tests to examine 

differences in the mean score of impulsivity between the 

binge- and the non-binge eating groups.  Results indicated 

that the binge eating group demonstrated significantly higher 

levels of total impulsivity on the BIS-11 (t(74) = -2.61, p < 

.05).  In addition, the binge-eating group reported 

significantly higher levels of attentional (t(74) = -2.86, p < 

.05) and nonplanning (t(74) = -2.06, p < .05) impulsivity than 

the non-binge eating group.  There was no significant 

difference in motoric impulsivity between the binge eating 

and non-binge eating group (t(74) = -1.43, p > .05).  The 

differences in means are presented in Figure 1.   

Similarly, we conducted two-sample t-tests to examine 

differences in the mean score of impulsivity between the 

binge-eating and asymptomatic groups.  The binge eating 

group included those that reported more than 9 binge eating 

symptoms (as in the previous analysis), whereas the 

asymptomatic group included those that reported having no 

binge eating symptoms.   The binge eating group was found 

to have significantly higher levels of total impulsivity on the 

BIS-11 than the asymptomatic binge eating group (t(48) = -

4.06, p < .05).  Moreover, the binge eating group had 

significantly higher levels of motoric (t(48) = -3.75, p < .05), 

attentional (t(48) = -3.83, p < .05), and nonplanning (t(48) = -

2.58, p < .05) impulsivity than the non binge-eating group.  

Notably, in contrast to analyses using the whole sample, 

when comparing binge eaters with asymptomatic non-binge 

eaters, binge eaters had significantly higher levels of motoric 

impulsivity in addition to attentional and nonplanning 

impulsivity.  The differences in means are presented in 

Figure 2. 

 

 

Table 1 

 

Correlation Matrix of EDDS, BIS-11, Binge Eating Subscale, Attentional, Motoric, and Nonplanning Impulsivity 

 
EDDS BIS-11 

Binge Eating 

Subscale 
Attentional Motoric Nonplanning 

EDDS ---      

BIS-11 .22 ---     

Binge Eating 

Subscale 
.36** .42* ---    

Attentional .05 .71** .40* ---   

Motoric .17 .78** .30* .34* ---  

Nonplanning .27 .84** .30* .41* .50* --- 
*p < .05. **p < .01. 

Mean Z-Score for Binge Eating Scale by Type of 

      Impulsivity and Presence of Binge Eating

Type of Impulsivity

Attentional Motoric Nonplanning

M
ean Z

-S
core

-0.4

-0.3

-0.2

-0.1

0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

Binge Eaters

Non-Binge Eaters

Whole Sample

 

BIS-11 

Figure 1. Mean Z-Score for Binge Eating Scale by Type of 

Impulsivity and Presence of Binge Eating – Whole Sample 



MILLER & LIMBERG 

 

48 

 

 

Discussion 

 

We hypothesized that binge eaters would have higher 

levels of motoric and attentional impulsivity and lower levels 

of nonplanning impulsivity compared to non-binge eaters.  

The binge-eating group was found to have significantly 

higher impulsivity scores compared to both the non-binge 

eating and the asymptomatic groups (whole and extreme 

samples analysis).  More specifically, binge eaters had 

significantly higher levels of attentional and nonplanning 

impulsivity than non-binge eaters.  Additionally, binge eaters 

had significantly higher levels of motoric impulsivity only 

when compared with asymptomatic non-binge eaters.  These 

results must be interpreted with caution because the binge 

eating subscale has not yet been validated by other studies.   

Attentional impulsivity was linked to binge eating 

behaviors.  Our results suggest that this type of impulsivity is 

higher in binge eaters compared to non-binge eaters, 

regardless of how our population sample is split.  Rosval and 

colleagues (2006) also found that attentional impulsivity was 

higher in the eating disordered groups compared to a non-

clinical control group, although the way in which attentional 

impulsivity and disordered eating are related is unclear.  This 

study highlights the importance of how binge eaters may be 

driven by impulsive actions, especially inattention.  One 

possible explanation is that binge eaters may be attentive to 

internal or external processes (e.g., cravings to binge, 

environmental stressors) instead of being attentive to the 

behavior and process of eating.  Non-binge eaters typically 

are cognizant of what they are eating, how it tastes, how fast 

they are eating, whereas binge eaters are not aware of how 

fast they are eating or whether they are full.  Interventions 

should aim to help binge eaters be mindful and attentive to 

the behavior and sensations of eating.   

The current study found that nonplanning impulsivity 

was also higher in binge eaters, regardless of which sample 

was compared.  This finding is consistent with other studies 

that have used the BIS-11 to study motoric, attentional and 

nonplanning impulsivity (Díaz-Marsá et al., 2008; Rosval et 

al., 2006; Galanti et al., 2007).  The identification of 

nonplanning impulsivity as characteristic of binge eating has 

implications for treatment.  It may be that non-binge eaters 

are aware of their dietary plans during the course of the day 

(planned meal times, thoughts on what will be eaten at meals) 

or as they become hungry, while binge eaters may react 

without planning.  Treatment interventions could target 

creating a structure around eating (e.g., regulated times to eat, 

duration of eating, frequency of eating, amount of food).  

However, Rosval and colleagues (2006) found that 

nonplanning impulsivity was not elevated in those diagnosed 

with BN, and that nonplanning impulsivity was deflated in 

those diagnosed with both AN, Restricting Type and AN, 

Binge-Eating/Purging Type.  Additionally, several 

 

Table 2 

 

Means of z-scores and standard deviations of whole sample and extreme sample by type of impulsivity and group 

  Whole Sample 

  Presence of Binge Eating 

  Binge Eaters  Non-Binge Eaters 

Type of Impulsivity  N M (z-score) SD  N M (z-score) SD 

Attentional  40 .31 .91  36 -.33* 1.01 

Motoric  40 .14 .96  36 -.19 1.02 

Nonplanning  40 .22 1.02  36 -.25* .95 

   

Extreme Sample 

  Presence of Binge Eating 

  Binge Eaters  Non-Binge Eaters 

Type of Impulsivity  N M (z-score) SD  N M (z-score) SD 

Attentional  40 .31 .91  10 -.94* .95 

Motoric  40 .14 .96  10 -1.07* .69 

Nonplanning  40 .22 1.02  10 -.76* 1.30 
Note. *p < .05 between the binge eating and non-binge eating groups.  

Mean Z-Score for Binge Eating Scale by Type of 

      Impulsivity and Presence of Binge Eating

Type of Impulsivity

Attentional Motoric Nonplanning

M
ea

n
 Z

-S
co

re

-1.2

-1.0

-0.8

-0.6

-0.4

-0.2

0.0

0.2

0.4

Binge Eaters

Non-Binge Eaters

Extreme Sample

 

BIS-11 

Figure 2. Mean Z-Score for Binge Eating Scale by Type of 

Impulsivity and Presence of Binge Eating – Extreme Sample 

 



BINGE EATING BEHAVIORS AND IMPULSIVITY  

 

49 

 

community studies have found lower levels or no correlation 

between nonplanning impulsivity and binge eaters (Rosval et 

al., 2006; Lyke & Spinella, 2004).  These contradictory 

results suggest that the relationship between binge-eating and 

nonplanning impulsivity is not fully understood, and warrants 

further investigation.   

The relationship between binge eating and motoric 

impulsivity differed depending on which sample was 

compared.  In the whole sample analysis, binge-eaters did not 

show higher rates of motoric impulsivity than non-binge 

eaters.  However, when compared to asymptomatic non-

binge eaters (those who reported no symptoms), binge eaters 

(those reporting more than 9 symptoms) did have 

significantly higher rates of motoric impulsivity (extreme 

sample analysis).  A previous study found that individuals 

diagnosed with BN and AN, Binge-Eating/Purging Type had 

higher levels of motoric impulsivity compared to the control 

group and compared to individuals diagnosed with AN, 

Restricting Type (Rosval et al., 2006).  

Our finding that the symptomatic non-binge eating group 

is more similar to the binge eating group in terms of motoric 

impulsivity, compared to the asymptomatic group suggests 

that motoric impulsivity may present as a risk factor in the 

development of BED.  Future research comparing the three 

groups (no binge eating symptoms, some binge eating 

symptoms, and BED) may enable further understanding of 

the relationship between motoric impulsivity and levels of 

disordered binge eating behavior.  In addition, future research 

might examine the time it takes for a binge eater to start 

binging after the thought enters the person’s mind or the 

duration of binge episodes.  These findings may also have 

clinical implications.  High motoric impulsivity may enable a 

person to binge without thinking about what is causing or 

motivating her to binge eat.  If this is the case, then it would 

be important to address the time it takes for a binge eater to 

start binging after the urge enters the person’s mind.  

Additionally, treatment could help a binge eater develop 

cognitive interventions, such as writing down thoughts and 

motivations associated with binge eating, to thereby enable 

mindfulness and decrease motoric impulsivity and the urge to 

binge.   

 

Limitations 
Although the findings in this study are of importance, 

there are several limitations to be considered.  For example, 

the number of participants in this study may be too small to 

accurately evaluate the relationship between motoric, 

attentional, and nonplanning impulsivity in binge eaters and 

non-binge eaters.  The use of a new measure without 

established clinical cut-offs to identify the binge eating group 

is also a limitation of this study.  Another limitation is the 

exclusion of men from this study.  Although, data from men 

may have yielded important information about their binge 

eating behaviors (e.g., prevalence, frequency, duration, 

presence of impulsivity), it would have been difficult to 

obtain a strong sample size with an equal number of 

experimental and control participants because of the low 

number of self-reported male binge eaters (Costin, 2007).   

The lack of ethnic diversity in this sample is also a 

limitation, as few people from minority backgrounds are 

represented.  Due to the high number of European Americans 

in this study, it is difficult to generalize to other ethnicities.  

However, existing literature suggests that European 

American women are more likely to be referred for eating 

disorders than other ethnicities (Cachelin & Striegel-Moore, 

2006).  This may simply indicate that women of non-

European descent present less frequently for treatment than 

European American women. 

Another limitation is associated with data collection.  

One of the initial difficulties with data collection was the low 

response rate from mailed research packets.  Initially, we 

mailed 50 packets over a 4-month period and only 30 

participants returned the packets.  The response rate jumped 

to a total of 86 research packets after using PsychData for 

three weeks.   

Finally, the use of self-report measures (one of which is 

not yet validated) adds limitation to this study.  Furthermore, 

since the research-revised subscale of the EDDS and the BIS-

11 are self-report questionnaires, the objectivity of the 

participants’ responses may be limited.   

 

Implications for Future Research 
Given the limitations of this study and the importance of 

this topic, further research on binge eating and attentional, 

motoric, and nonplanning impulsivity should be conducted.  

Replicating this study using a larger sample size may provide 

a clearer association between impulsivity (i.e., motoric, 

attentional, and nonplanning) and binge eating behaviors, 

which could illuminate additional factors that contribute to 

the relationship between impulsivity and binge eating.  

Additionally, although it is apparent that motoric, attentional, 

and nonplanning impulsivity are correlated with binge eating 

behaviors, it remains unclear how they are related to one 

another.  Adding a binge eating subscale to the EDDS, such 

as the one developed for this study, may prove helpful in 

assessing those who do not meet the full diagnosis of BED, 

but who display features of BED.  Also, adding a binge 

eating subscale to the EDDS, such as the one developed for 

this study, would likely prove helpful in assessing those who 

do not meet the full diagnosis of BED, but who display 

features of BED.  Establishing a validated binge eating scale 

would give future researchers and treating professionals an 

accurate and effective way to separate out those who binge 

eat and those who do not.  Not having a validated binge 

eating scale has created a limitation and the results of this 

study may have been different if one existed. 

Additionally, future studies with large samples should 

clarify the relationship(s) between motoric, attentional, and 

nonplanning impulsivity and binge eating.  It is important 

that impulsivity is measured as a multidimensional construct 

in future research, as evidenced by previous research and our 

results.  The current study suggests that multiple constructs 

and variables may impact the relationship between 



MILLER & LIMBERG 

 

50 

 

impulsivity and eating behaviors.  It is important for future 

research to identify the underlying variables that impact this 

relationship, such as, how impulsivity is defined, how eating 

behaviors are categorized, and the demographic variables 

(i.e., age, gender, presence of disordered eating).  At present, 

there is limited literature that examines the relationship 

between impulsivity and binge eating.  Further research in 

this area would benefit patients with disordered eating and 

impulse problems.  For example, it would inform treatment 

protocols to know if there is a directional relationship 

between binge eating and impulsivity (that is, if impulsivity 

makes one vulnerable to binge eating or if binge eating is 

simply comorbid with impulsivity).  A more complete 

understanding of the complex association between binge 

eating and impulsivity would have a major impact on the 

field of eating disorders and impulsivity.  For example, 

treatment considerations and techniques for BED could be 

expanded to reflect the interplay between binge eating and 

impulsivity.  Research efforts may also be able to pinpoint a 

common variable between binge eating and impulsivity that 

could further the education and training of the treating 

professionals in the field of eating disorders. 

 

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