Validation of the Arabic version of the binge eating scale and correlates of binge eating disorder among a sample of the Lebanese population

OBJECTIVES: To test the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the Binge Eating Scale (BES), a self-questionnaire assessing binge eating, in a sample of the Lebanese population. The secondary objective was to evaluate factors associated with binge eating. METHODS: This cross-sectional study, conducted between January and May 2018, enrolled 811 adult participants from all districts of Lebanon. The BES was administered to study its psychometric properties. The sample was divided into two separate samples (405 for sample 1 and 406 for sample 2). An exploratory factor analysis was executed on Sample 1, followed by a confirmatory factor analysis on Sample 2 using the structure obtained in Sample 1. Three hierarchical stepwise linear regressions were conducted to assess factors associated with binge eating. RESULTS: The factor analysis suggested a two-factor structure for the BES explaining a total of 41.4% of the variance. All items could be extracted from the list. The internal consistency of the measurement was adequate (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.86). The confirmatory factor analysis revealed an adequate fit to the model with satisfactory Maximum Likelihood Chi-Square/Degrees of Freedom (χ(2)/df), Steiger-Lind RMSEA, Joreskog GFI, and AGFI. Higher BMI, depression, anxiety, emotional eating, greater body dissatisfaction, and more pressure from media to lose weight were associated with higher binge eating. Higher expressive suppression facet score was associated with lower binge eating. CONCLUSION: The Arabic version of BES could be a useful tool for screening and assessing the binge eating behaviors in clinical practice and research. Also, being dissatisfied with one’s body size, having a history of sexual abuse, family history of binge eating, increased depressive/anxiety symptoms, and lower self-esteem seem to be associated with higher BES scores.