Introduction: Binge eating is characterised by eating uncontrollably a large amount of food but without purging afterwards. Appetite and satiety are influenced by extremely complex central and gut-related hormonal systems which modulate the regulation of food intake. Since insulin is an anorexic hormone, we postulate that there is a difference in the insulin profiles between the bingers and non-bingers obese subjects with normal glucose tolerance, its level lower among the bingers.

Methods: Binge eating scale were distributed to healthy non diabetic obese participants and they were categorised into binge eaters (score >17) and non-binge eaters (score ≤ 17). A seven-point-profile of serum insulin and glucose following an overnight 12 hour fast, before and after ingestion of a nutritionally complete meal (460kcal) was done at time -15, 0, 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes. Appetite ratings including hunger and fullness were also obtained.

Results: 44 binge eaters and 21 non-binge eaters participated. Both groups were of comparable age and body-mass index. None of these obese participants had impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance. Fasting and postprandial changes in glucose and insulin levels did not differ between the two groups but there was a significant increase in insulin level within each group from time -15 to 120min (p<0.001). The binge group had a lower peak of insulin at 60 minutes postprandial compared to non-binge group.

Conclusion:
The lower insulin peaks among obese binge eaters may partly explain their continuing eating behaviour.