ABSTRACT
Objective
Over the past 60 years, the proportion of highly processed foods rich in refined carbohydrates and added fats in the food environment has increased, coinciding with a rise in binge eating. While past research has focused on individual vulnerabilities for binge eating, emerging evidence suggests highly processed foods may exacerbate these vulnerabilities. This Research Forum addresses a critical research gap by synthesizing the foods reported in binge-eating episodes across 41 studies and identifying limitations in current food-reporting practices.
Method
Systematic searches were conducted in PubMed, Google Scholar, and PsycINFO through February 2025. Eligible studies reported specific foods consumed during binge-eating episodes among human participants. Foods were coded as highly processed based on the presence of refined carbohydrates and/or added fats.
Results
All 41 (100%) eligible studies reported at least one highly processed food in binge-eating episodes. Only 31.7% of studies (n = 13) reported minimally processed food consumption in a binge-eating episode. Of the food types reported across all studies (n = 404), 70.3% were classified as highly processed and 14.9% as minimally processed. However, vague food descriptions limited the ability to categorize many foods. The most frequently reported foods were cake, ice cream, cookies, and chocolate.
Discussion
Across published studies, highly processed foods were highly prevalent in binge-eating episodes, but interpretations are constrained by vague and incomplete food reporting. We outline recommendations for standardized food-reporting practices to improve the characterization of foods reported in binge-eating occasions to strengthen the clinical relevance of future research.