Use of an Operant Task to Estimate Food Reinforcement in Adult Humans With and Without BED

• DOI: 10.1038/oby.2008.281
• Publication Date: 2008-06-05T15:34:19Z
• Authors: Jennifer A. Nasser; Suzette M. Evans; Allan Geliebter; F. Xavier Pi‐Sunyer; Richard W. Foltin
• Keywords: Preload; Operant conditioning; Binge-eating disorder

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the utility food-reinforced operant task performance in modeling binge-eating disorder (BED). We hypothesized that food reinforcement after a caloric preload would be related BED status, but not hunger.We investigated association between reports hunger, binge tendency, and sample 18 women (12 non-BED, 7 lean, 5 obese, 6 obese BED). Participants completed two sessions consuming 600 ml flavored water or 1 kcal/ml liquid meal.Under condition, did differ non-BED groups, positively correlated with hunger ratings across all participants (r = 0.55, P 0.023). Under meal significantly decreased compared condition group (t -2.6, 0.026). There also significant difference groups fed (41 +/- 40, 117 60, F 10.3, 0.005, vs. BED, respectively, mean s.d.). correlation remained only 0.69, 0.011).Our results support hypothesis measured is status those subjects BED. data suggest can useful criteria such as "eating when physically hungry."