Prevalence of binge eating disorder symptoms and associated characteristics in Danish adults with type 2 diabetes: A cross‐sectional study

Abstract Aims Coexistence of binge eating disorder (BED) and type 2 diabetes is linked to poor health outcomes, but data on the prevalence and clinical profile of BED symptoms remain limited and inconsistent. We estimated the prevalence of BED symptoms and examined their associated clinical characteristics in Danish adults with type 2 diabetes. Methods We conducted a cross‐sectional study within the Danish Centre for Strategic Research in Type 2 Diabetes (DD2) cohort. Adults with type 2 diabetes completed the Binge Eating Disorder Questionnaire (BED‐Q) to determine the presence of BED symptoms. Data on well‐being, comorbidities, treatment and biomarkers were retrieved from national health registers. Associations between participant characteristics and BED symptoms were examined using Poisson regression to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs). Results Among 2459 individuals, 72 (2.9%) screened positive for BED symptoms, and 76 (3.1%) showed subclinical BED symptoms. Individuals with BED symptoms had an earlier age at diagnosis of type 2 diabetes (median 51.8 years, IQR: 41.3–57.6) than adults without BED symptoms (median 59.5 years, IQR: 52.1–66.2). BED symptoms were also associated with severe obesity (BMI ≥35 kg/m 2 ) (PR 11.37, 95% CI: 2.78–46.49), female sex (PR 1.54, 95% CI: 1.12–2.10), and lower well‐being (PR 1.83, 95% CI: 1.15–2.92). Conclusions BED symptoms were associated with a distinct clinical and psychosocial profile in Danish adults with type 2 diabetes. These findings support clinical awareness of BED symptoms in this population, particularly among women, individuals with obesity, those with lower well‐being and those diagnosed with diabetes at a younger age.