On the basis of extensive research supporting the clinical validity of binge eating disorder (BED), BED has been included in DSM-5 as a distinct eating disorder diagnosis.¹ Binge eating disorder is defined by recurrent objective binge eating (OBE) episodes that occur in the absence of inappropriate weight control behaviors. Binge eating disorder is the most common eating disorder, with a worldwide mean lifetime prevalence rate of 1.9%.² The prevalence estimates substantially increase among individuals with obesity. In contrast to other eating disorders, the sex ratio for BED is less skewed. However, women are more often affected, with an odds ratio of 2.4.² No ethnic or racial group is overrepresented.³ Binge eating disorder is associated with a significantly elevated risk of psychiatric and medical comorbidity and psychosocial impairment.^2,4 Of importance, patients with subthreshold DSM-IV BED do not differ with regard to demographic characteristics, body mass index (BMI) (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared), and a wide range of eating disorder and general psychopathologic findings from individuals with full-syndrome BED.⁵ Binge eating disorder is associated with increases in health care use and costs.^3,6

The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of, and attitudes toward, vegetarianism and veganism. We also assessed the association between vegetarianism/veganism and eating disorder, depressive, and somatic symptoms. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey in adults in Germany that was representative in terms of age, gender, and educational level was carried out. Data from 2449 adults (53.5% females) were included. Mean age was 49.6 (SD 17.1) years. A total of 5.4% of participants reported following a vegetarian or vegan diet. While the majority of participants agreed that vegetarian diets are healthy and harmless (56.1%), only 34.8% believed this to be true of vegan diets. The majority of participants also believed that a vegetarian (58.7%) or vegan (74.7%) diet can lead to nutritional deficiency. Female gender, younger age, higher education, lower body mass index (BMI), and higher depressive and eating disorder symptoms were found to be associated with vegetarianism/veganism. We did not find increased physical complaints in the group of vegetarians/vegans. Our results point toward a moderate prevalence of vegetarianism/veganism among the general population. Our findings suggest that health care professionals should keep eating disorder pathology, affective status in mind when dealing with individuals who choose a vegetarian/vegan dietary pattern.

Recently, night eating syndrome (NES) was included into the DSM-5 as an example of “Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorders.” The study provides insight into the population prevalence of NES using a large representative German population sample (n = 2,460) with a wide age range (14–85 years). The prevalence of NES was 1.1% using a cut-off on the Night Eating Questionnaire (NEQ) of 25. A positive screening for NES was positively associated with depression and anxiety, eating disorder psychopathology, and body weight.